AUSTIN | ABIA Updates

[LoneStarMike]

Originally Posted by electricron

All your international "future" events customers being generated by one business. Why should all the taxpayers of Austin subsidize just one (COTA) business?

The improvements at the airport aren't being subsidized by "all" Austin taxpayers. They're paid for with revenue generated by the airport, including landing fees, the $4.50 PFC (Passenger facility charge) rental car fees, parking revenue, concession sales, etc.

The only Austinites that are subsidizing the improvements at the airport are the ones who use the airport.

[electricron]

Originally Posted by LoneStarMike

The improvements at the airport aren't being subsidized by "all" Austin taxpayers. They're paid for with revenue generated by the airport, including landing fees, the $4.50 PFC (Passenger facility charge) rental car fees, parking revenue, concession sales, etc.

The only Austinites that are subsidizing the improvements at the airport are the ones who use the airport.

True, over time. As I have already shown by the data, Austin international flights can be handled by just two planes a day. Those two planes a day aren't generating more than half a percent of all revenues by the airport. 99.5% of the revenues generated by the airport comes from domestic flights.
Shouldn't revenues generated by domestic passengers be spent to improve domestic passenger facilities and experiences vs international passengers? I believe facilities for international passengers are already heavily subsidized by domestic passengers, and they certainly don't deserve more subsidies.

[LoneStarMike]

Originally Posted by electricron

Shouldn't revenues generated by domestic passengers be spent to improve domestic passenger facilities and experiences vs international passengers? I believe facilities for international passengers are already heavily subsidized by domestic passengers, and they certainly don't deserve more subsidies.

That's kind of like saying because Robert Mueller Municipal Airport didn't have any international service, ABIA shouldn't either. Also, international passengers pay additional customs processing fees, and back when we had VivaAerobus, AeroMexico, and Mexicana, I think those airlines paid double the landing fee rate because they were non-signatory carriers - unlike most of the domestic carriers serving Austin (with the exception of Alaska Airlines.)

[Austin1971]

[q

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by electricron

Interesting argument. All your international "future" events customers being generated by one business. Why should all the taxpayers of Austin subsidize just one (COTA) business?


The citizens of Austin were promised by COTA that holding races wouldn't cost the city one additional penny, yet they keep coming to the city asking for more freebies on a monthly basis. Before long, the city will be spending more to hold events at COTA than COTA's developers. And that's wrong!

Sounds like you are an ANTI COTA mouth piece. If you ACTUALLY read my earlier post, i DID NOT say COTA was the only reason Austin needs to expand international service.

Did SXSW just completely get brushed aside? SXSW IS AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT. THAT IS A FACT. why continue to require passengers to go through more hassle to fly into another airport just to take a domestic flight to Austin? That hurts Austin's business in the end just as much as it hurts the travelers who have to go through all that just to get here.

SAMSUNG again, another point I made you conveniently brushed aside and instead focus all of your negativity to COTA.

You make it sound as if Austin is just not worthy for international flights and that is plain and simply WRONG.

Oh and by the way not to get too far off subject, what exactly do you mean COTA keeps going back to the city of Austin for more money? Would love to find out exactly what you are talking about.

[the Genral]

Excuse my ignorance, I am not smarter than a 5th grader, but why wouldn't it be possible to use the building Air Mexico used for their terminal for temporary international use? Passengers would have to use the portable ladders to get off the plane like Obama did from AF1, no big deal, get escorted into the building to get screened, then bussed to the main terminal or to their destinations. It seems to me the least expensive way to get through the log jam during high international flight volume venues such as F1 and perhaps SXSW. Somebody let me know how far off I am on this one....

[Austin1971]

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[LoneStarMike]

ABIA ACTIVITY OVERVIEW - July 2012 (press Release)

Total passenger traffic for July 2012 was 867,248, up 2% compared to July 2011. July 2012 enplanements totaled 432,564, up 1.5%

Total passenger traffic for January – July YTD was 5,458,650 up 4% compared to January – July 2011.

More detailed report:

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Aviation Activity Report
Calendar Year 2012 vs 2011

In other news, Southwest announced a new daily Austin - Newark flight to begin in March 2013

Source

....we’re re-engineering Southwest’s schedule at Newark by eliminating three daily Newark-Baltimore/Washington roundtrips and, instead, adding daily nonstop service between Newark and both Austin and New Orleans, and twice daily nonstop service between Newark and Nashville.

[KevinFromTexas]

^To add to that, it was the 31st straight month that traffic at ABIA was up.

Business Digest: Austin airport traffic up for 31st straight month

[the Genral]

I like this move by Southwest. I prefer flying into Newark when I'm visiting Upstate NY. The drive along the Hudson on the west side of the river is more scenic and less congested than the other 2 choices, Laguardia or Kennedy. And I usually fly Southwest wherever I travel. Too bad they aren't starting the Newark route till next year... I'm flying up in October.
Just wondering how much more than a 31 month trend do airport officials need to expedite the terminal expansion?

[Austin1971]

B

[LoneStarMike]

August passenger numbers released today

Passenger Activity: Total passenger traffic for August 2012 was 838,994, up 6% compared to August 2011.

Passenger Activity:Total passenger traffic for January – August YTD was 6,297,644 up 4% compared to January – August 2011.

Activity Overview (Press Release)

Detailed Activity Report

[Jdawgboy]

I love it, the steady growth that is going to pick up even more is forcing ABIA to start expansion plans ASAP. even though it says for adding more gates, thats far down the road, I don't see how that is possible. I think by 2015 at the latest we will see work begin on adding more gates to the terminal.

[electricron]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I love it, the steady growth that is going to pick up even more is forcing ABIA to start expansion plans ASAP. even though it says for adding more gates, thats far down the road, I don't see how that is possible. I think by 2015 at the latest we will see work begin on adding more gates to the terminal.

You may be absolutely correct. At least the present expansion adds security checkpoints and customs capabilities that will eventually be needed with the addition of additional gates later. So, it's not an entire waste of money and effort.

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I love it, the steady growth that is going to pick up even more is forcing ABIA to start expansion plans ASAP. even though it says for adding more gates, thats far down the road, I don't see how that is possible. I think by 2015 at the latest we will see work begin on adding more gates to the terminal.

It may even be sooner than that. ABIA is already working on the tarmac and overnight parking expansion (both required prior to expanding the terminal).

I believe max PAX at ABIA is currently in the neighborhood of 11 million. At a 5% annual growth rate, ABIA would reach that mark in 2015. Obviously, one would like for any expansion in PAX capacity to begin prior to reaching your current maximum limit. Furthermore, I believe the number of new gates in Phase I would be roughly 5 or 6 gates (for a total of 30-31 gates). Thus, increasing PAX capacity by only a couple of million.

But, who knows? Our airport is being run by a former fireman (no prior aviation management experience). And, nobody at the city level has any forward thinking ability (i.e., plan for the future).

[the Genral]

I've never seen a time where every gate was occupied so I'm guessing they think the number of gates are adequate for the near future even with continued increased passenger usage. And since any gate additions would be add ons to the current structure, construction time may be relatively quick. Still, now seems the right time to be proactive rather than reactive when over crowding becomes and issue.
Of course they could have just built the terminal with symmetrical gate wings in the first place. Then adding a 2nd terminal would be the next phase, far down the road, not just adding a few gates. Also, I imagine those few extra gates are going to cost more to build today then they would have when the terminal was built, ie cost of materials today, demolition, tarmac and parking reconstruction...To me its like building a house with a one and a half car garage. Its going to cost more later to expand.

[Austin1971]

A

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by Austin1971

ABIA won't even consider expansion until all the gates are leased. Gates 2,4 and 21 are not leased. Airlines also will upgauge aircraft from RJ's to mainline as the demand rises. It's not the gates that are the problem, it's the terminal size and arrivals hall. With the eastside infill some of those problems will be alleviated. ABIA is all about making money. You don't have to look hard to find airports that are actually closing down parts of their airports/gates due to low passenger levels....Pittsburgh, Cincy, St. Louis and Memphis to name a few.

Very true. But to be fair, those airports you mentioned are former major Delta and Northwest hubs which were subsequently downsized into smaller hubs after Delta's acquisition of Northwest Airlines. St. Louis was the main hub for TWA, which was acquired by American and their PAX was dealt a blow because of this...as the extra gates at Lambert were not required.

ABIA is dealing with this as well. Due to the airline mergers and acquisitions over the past several years, gates 4 and 21 lost their leases. Gate 2 is the international gate, which should have a part-time least with Southwest (AirTran) for their seasonal services to Cancun.

I believe gate 1, the downstairs commuter gate does not have a lease agreement in place...

[Austin1971]

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[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/l...passeng/nSZQ2/

Posted: 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012
Airport planning for influx of Formula One passengers

By David Doolittle
American-Statesman Staff

More than 60 private plane operators have filed permits to land at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport during Formula One week, including nine from international destinations, officials said Wednesday.

Planes that expect to arrive at the airport Nov. 12-21, other than scheduled commercial flights, must contact the airport to get a parking reservation, airport officials said.

Airport spokesman Jim Halbrook said the 62 permits filed so far range from small aircraft to one Boeing 757.