Originally published in 1999
AUSTIN-With clockwork precision, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport began to serve the needs of Central Texas on Sunday, May 23, 1999, at 6:00 a.m., after a planning and construction process lasting over a decade. The first commercial passenger flight from the $690 million airport was by American Airlines on its way to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
The first U.S. conversion of an Air Force Base to a commercial airport since the end of the Cold War, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will host and support general aviation, commercial aviation, the State Aircraft Pooling Board and the Texas Army National Guard. Most importantly, this multi-use facility is expected to be a critical link in the region’s transportation infrastructure upon which future growth fueled by the dynamics of global competition and the computer industry.
The airport is located in southeast Austin on Texas 71 near the intersection of U.S. 183; eight miles from downtown and the State Capitol; in prime position near the NAFTA Highway (I-35).
The 600,000 square foot passenger terminal is named for the legendary U.S. Congresswoman, Barbara Jordan, who lived in Austin until her death in 1996. A central courtyard area in the terminal, the Market Place, showcases Texas-flavored shops and restaurants, including a stage area that will routinely play host to Austin musicians and book signings. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has 25 boarding gates, two parallel runways, one 12,250 feet long and the other 9,000 feet long. For ground transportation, there are 10,000 parking places, with SuperShuttle shared-ride, door-to-door service.
Most recent airport statistics note that six million passengers visit Austin per year, 260 flights per day of which 31 are direct, nonstop. With a population of 1,057,000 people in the metropolitan Austin area, 567,566 within the Austin city limits, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will certainly accommodate the needs of Austin – the 18th largest city in the country