A state capital needs to be easily accessible by various transportation methods. That also applies to Austin, the capital city of Texas.
To ensure accessibility from inside and outside of the United States, Austin has two airports that operate a considerable number of flights each day. One of them is a major international airport called Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The other is the Austin Executive Airport, a smaller alternative public aviation facility.
To know more about those two airports, let’s look at their history, how they operate, their features, and the facilities they offer.
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Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is the only international airport in Austin, and it’s also the largest. It’s called the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
The airport’s name honors John August Earl Bergstrom, the first Austinite killed in World War II. He served as a United States Army Air Force captain before his demise.
This airport replaced the Robert Mueller Airport as Austin’s main public airport in 1999. It is in the southeastern part of Austin. The distance from this airport to the city center is around five miles.
The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is the largest airport in Austin, which takes up 4,242 acres of land. It contains two runways, three helipads, and 34 gates. Nine out of those gates just recently got added in 2019.
There are two terminals you can find at this airport. The main one is the Barbara Jordan Terminal, and the second terminal is South Terminal, designated for low-cost airlines’ landing.
AUS serves flights to over 70 destinations operated by more than 20 airlines. They also include international flights to London, Mexico City, Amsterdam, Panama City, Toronto, and other big cities.
The airport offers a complete set of facilities that include restaurants, shops, retail stores, lounges, and free wi-fi.
Some of the restaurants you can find at the airport are:
- Salt Lick Cellars
- Tacodeli
- Amy’s Ice Cream
- Starbucks
- Annie’s
- Haymaker Sandwiches
- The Saxon Pub
- The Beer Drop
To shop at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, you can visit these stores:
- BookPeople
- Tyler’s Austin Warehouse
- Austin City Limits
- James Avery Artisan Jewelry
On the baggage claim level of the terminal, you can find a Travelex kiosk where you can exchange your currency. You can go to the terminal’s lower level if you need a car rental. It has several car rental companies, such as Avis, Budget, and Hertz.
Are you traveling with your pet? Outside the buildings are several pet relief areas where you and your pets can take a break.
The most distinctive feature of this airport is the traditional live music performed by Texas’ local artists. It truly represents the spirit of Austin as the “Live Music Capital of the World.”
Besides the live music, you can find one more exciting feature this airport has. It is the art exhibition in the Barbara Jordan Terminal. Where else can you find an entire museum in an airport?
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The terminal exhibits both temporary and permanent art paintings and installations. Local and internationally well-renowned artists create them.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is conveniently accessible by car due to its location near some major highways. However, if you’re a traveler who relies on public transportation, you can also reach it by taking the Capital MetroRail train.
Austin’s official rail line offers direct service from Downtown to the Airport and vice versa. The train comes approximately every 15 minutes.
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Austin Executive Airport
The Austin Executive Airport was first built in the 1960s with the name. Until 2011, it used to be known as the Bird’s Next Airport.
Ron W. Herikson invested $33 million of his money to fund the development of this airport. He had the vision to establish a representative general aviation landmark of Austin. Currently, the airport is owned and operated by Travis County Field LLC.
Like the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, this airport offers a general aviation service for the public. It also provides first-class and business-class facilities for its passengers and pilots.
Compared to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Austin Executive Airport is farther northeast. The distance to the city center is around 14 miles.
That’s because it’s more designated toward jets and small aircraft. Most of them are privately-operated or corporate-operated flights. Even though it’s small, Austin Executive Airport has been a base for more than 90 aircraft.
Although it’s relatively far from downtown, it’s highly accessible thanks to the toll roads that make it easy to reach from anywhere in Austin. From the University of Texas at Austin, it takes only 20 minutes by car. You can even directly access it from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
Being small doesn’t make this airport lack facilities. It also offers several onsite restaurants, free wi-fi, and comfortable seating areas for pilots and passengers.
Pilots can enjoy its exclusive amenities such as a lounge, intimate, quiet rooms, weather rooms, and personal entertainment halls. With these facilities, they can relax in between flights. Some Fixed Base Operators (FBO) in this airport also have conference rooms you can rent for meetings and events.
The Henriksen Jet Center, one of the airport’s Fixed Base Operators (FBO), often ranks as the top FBO in Texas. It operates 24/7, making it convenient for anyone needing an urgent flight.
Final Thoughts
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport caters to flights from all over the state. It also serves as a base for jets and low-cost aircraft.
If you plan to visit Austin outside the United States, book a ticket for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Meanwhile, Austin Executive Airport can be a good choice if you’re from the US and want more private aviation experience.
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