Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is gearing up for a busy holiday travel season, advising passengers to plan ahead and arrive early. The airport anticipates increased activity from November 21 through December 2. Although specific passenger numbers are not yet available, last year's Thanksgiving period saw over 382,000 people screened by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), with the Friday before the holiday being particularly busy.
To manage the expected influx of travelers, AUS has implemented several measures. Additional staff will be present in the terminal to assist with wayfinding and crowd control. The Department Operations Center will be activated during peak times to address any operational issues swiftly.
Travelers are advised to check real-time traffic updates at DriveTexas.org before heading to the airport due to expected road congestion. CapMetro's Route 20 offers a convenient connection to AUS. Parking spaces can be reserved in advance at ABIAParking.com, and both departure and arrival levels are available for passenger drop-off and pick-up.
For security screening, AUS has three checkpoints leading to all gates, with TSA PreCheck and Clear available at Checkpoint 2 West. TSA checkpoints open daily at 3 a.m., and additional screening lanes have been added in collaboration with TSA.
Passengers should arrive at least 2.5 hours before domestic flights and 3 hours before international flights if using general TSA screening. Those needing extra time for luggage check-in or other pre-security activities should plan accordingly but avoid arriving more than four hours before departure.
The airport offers accessibility services such as the GoodMaps app for navigation assistance and TSA Cares for additional help during security screening. Information on these services is available online.
AUS encourages passengers to enjoy amenities like local dining options, art installations, and live music once inside the Barbara Jordan Terminal. Allegiant and Frontier passengers should note that their flights operate from the separate South Terminal.
Construction projects under the Journey With AUS program may affect some areas of the terminal. Updates on these activities can be found on AustinTexas.gov/AUSConstructionUpdates or through AUS's social media channels.
For further information on TSA guidelines or airport-related inquiries, passengers can visit TSA.gov or contact the Airport Operations Center at (512) 530-2242.
Media availability is scheduled for November 26 from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., featuring Patricia Mancha from TSA and Kimmie Hey from AUS PIO Division Manager. Media representatives are asked to RSVP by November 25.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport serves approximately 20 million passengers annually and is currently undergoing significant improvements through its Journey With AUS expansion program.