Austin City Council Votes for Major Airport Expansion, Starting with a New Utility Plant

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The Austin City Council voted unanimously to approve a $162 million plan to build a new utility plant for the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, which has been deemed "deficient" in meeting the city's current needs. This is the first of many planned expansion votes, addressing the airport's outdated infrastructure and increasing capacity.

"This project is at the forefront of our sustainability and environmental goals." Airport CEO Ghizlane Badawi

• The existing plant, built in 1997, has reached its peak cooling capacity and cannot accommodate further growth.
• The new plant will reduce the airport's carbon footprint.
• Construction begins June 2025, with an expected completion date of November 2027.

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More Votes, More Changes:

• August 27: Two votes on Concourse B, including a $72 million design contract for the new concourse, tunnel, and infrastructure.
• September: Votes on utility extensions and a new parking garage with a minimum of 7,700 spaces.
• Fall: Major expansion vote to add at least 20 gates with a new building, Concourse B.

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##Why Now?

• The airport has been operating over capacity for years, with an unexpected surge in passengers post-pandemic.
• Projections forecasts over 30 million passengers annually by 2027, a decade earlier than expected.
• Several other construction projects are already underway, including the West Infill project and adding three gates to the Barbara Jordan Terminal.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is taking off in a big way, and the city is playing catch-up. ##