Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is celebrating 25 years

With a focus on supporting local businesses, showcasing regional art and prioritizing sustainability, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) stands out as more than just an airport: it reflects Austin’s identity and values.

AUS is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year by highlighting its history and hosting passenger events throughout the month of May.

The history

Originally established in the 1940s as Del Valle Airport, AUS served as a military airport during World War II. In 1943, the airport was renamed Bergstrom Air Force Base after Captain John August Earl Bergstrom, the first person from Austin to die in the war.

The Robert Mueller Municipal Airport served as Austin’s civilian airport from 1930 until the late 1990s. As the city grew, city officials wanted to expand the airport, but there was no room for growth at its current location.

Bergstrom Air Force Base was decommissioned in 1990 and the land was returned to the city of Austin. The transition to its current location marked a pivotal moment in AUS’ history, allowing the company to meet the growing demands of air transportation while maintaining its commitment to excellence. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport opened on May 23, 1999 and has served as a means of transportation for residents and tourists ever since.

A distinctly Austin vibe

What sets AUS apart is its commitment to supporting local businesses, restaurants and artists.

“We have more than 40 food and retail stores in the terminal,” said Tae Gallegos, public information and marketing program manager. “We are one of the first airports to have a local theme throughout our entire airport.”

Individuals can dine at well-known Austin restaurants such as The Salt Lick BBQ, The Peached Tortilla, JO’S Coffee, Hippies and Hops, East Side Pies and Amy’s Ice Cream.

In addition to local restaurants, the airport features eight music stations to showcase local musicians and several art galleries. AUS offers travelers a taste of Austin’s vibrant culture before they even step foot outside the airport.

“We are very community-oriented,” says webmaster Jim Ann Carter.

AUS also emphasizes sustainability through a program that offers passengers the option to pay to offset their carbon emissions.

“We have achieved level three plus accreditation by Airport Council International,” said Gallegos. “We were able to share additional credits with several other stakeholders on site, officially reducing their carbon footprint by more than 6%.”

Mark a milestone

As the city of Austin has grown and changed over the past 25 years, AUS has changed with it.

“When I first came here, it was a small airport, just like Austin was small,” Carter said. “It really started to grow around 2012. Then we started adding gates, modernizing our baggage handling and revamping our food courts to become even more local.”

AUS staff plans to spend the entire month of May celebrating the airport’s 25th anniversary. On May 23, AUS will receive a proclamation from the mayor declaring May 23 as Austin-Bergstrom International Day. In addition, employees will host events for passengers in the terminal with photo opportunities, friendship bracelet making stations, giveaways and a 25th anniversary history station.

With continued expansion projects aimed at meeting the changing needs of travelers and the community, AUS remains committed to improving the passenger experience and highlighting all aspects of Austin’s culture that make it unique.

Learn more

For more information about Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, visit the website.

The above story was produced by multi-platform journalist Mary Katherine Shapiro of Community Impact’s Storytelling team, with information provided solely by the local business as part of their purchase of ‘sponsored content’ through our advertising team.