AUSTIN | ABIA Updates

[AUS]

Originally Posted by DoubleC

You mean March 2016?

I'm sure they'd definitely want a 777 during March and the summer for obvious reasons.

Yes and I do mean 2016, sorry about that. I think the 787-9 may have more seats than the 777, but I am not sure.

[Mopacs]

There was a 75 mph wind gust reported at ABIA this evening. Were there any reports of damage?

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/today.html

Time Speed Location County State Lat Lon Comments
0230 75 AUSTIN BERGSTROM INT AP TRAVIS TX 3020 9767 (EWX)

[San Diego-Honolulu]

Originally Posted by LoneStarMike

Two-part article (and both are really long) about Korean Air from CAPA Centre for Aviation:

Korean Air Part 1:Ignores trans-Pacific expansion to lift profits. Future service with 747-8 & 787-9
May 15, 2015



The 13 North American destinations already served by KE include Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Honolulu, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver and Washington DC.

Korean Air Part 2: Delta Air Lines difficult but potential JV partner. Pause on US-LatAm growth
May 18, 2015

I think if a joint venture between Delta and Korean Air happens, I think the following cities have a better chance of getting Seoul service than ABIA. I think either Korean Air or Delta would look into starting routes from Seoul Incheon to
Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, and Boston. Those three are Delta hubs and SLC and MSP would offer a ton of connections that would benefit the two airlines. Mostly when joint ventures happen, the two airlines usually like to connect each other's hubs and major large O&D markets.

I think the Asian airline that ABIA should try to lure is Japan Airlines. They are a member of OneWorld alliance with American and British Airways, and I think a 787 flying to Tokyo Narita would be the perfect aircraft for that route.

[ATCZERO]

Just wanted to say hello to the posters in this thread. I've been following the notes from the airport advisory committee for months now and one of the members was actually my first boss at ABIA control tower/approach control.

I stumbled across this thread looking for specific updates for flight changes in and out of Austin and also for updates concerning land side and air side improvements. Thanks for posting all the insider info by the way!

AUS has changed quite a bit in my 7 years working here. I remember when the go kart track was still going, before it turned into employee parking...which is now awaiting demolition for ramp expansion.

So, I was hoping some of y'all might have more in depth information about some of the projects happening around ABIA. This is what I understand so far:

1) RCCF building will be demolished to make way for the new de-ice facility.
2) The old de-ice facility will be demolished? Then apron expansion will commence?
3) After apron expansion, 7 gate expansion on the east side.

I saw in the notes for the previous months meeting they were in the planning phase for the south terminal. Do y'all think that was for that small green building or was it for the actual long term master plan south terminal?

Also, any idea of when the 5 private hangers south of Signature will be complete? I've seen them working on some of the ground work the past few weeks but I can't imagine they can do much with all this rain.

Also, the control tower saw 65mph winds that night. We were close to having to evacuate. The back patio had metal chairs that were moved a good 20+ feet into the shrubs and a trashcan that blew across the parking lot against the chain fence.

[San Diego-Honolulu]

Originally Posted by ATCZERO

Just wanted to say hello to the posters in this thread. I've been following the notes from the airport advisory committee for months now and one of the members was actually my first boss at ABIA control tower/approach control.

I stumbled across this thread looking for specific updates for flight changes in and out of Austin and also for updates concerning land side and air side improvements. Thanks for posting all the insider info by the way!

AUS has changed quite a bit in my 7 years working here. I remember when the go kart track was still going, before it turned into employee parking...which is now awaiting demolition for ramp expansion.

So, I was hoping some of y'all might have more in depth information about some of the projects happening around ABIA. This is what I understand so far:

1) RCCF building will be demolished to make way for the new de-ice facility.
2) The old de-ice facility will be demolished? Then apron expansion will commence?
3) After apron expansion, 7 gate expansion on the east side.

I saw in the notes for the previous months meeting they were in the planning phase for the south terminal. Do y'all think that was for that small green building or was it for the actual long term master plan south terminal?

Also, any idea of when the 5 private hangers south of Signature will be complete? I've seen them working on some of the ground work the past few weeks but I can't imagine they can do much with all this rain.

Also, the control tower saw 65mph winds that night. We were close to having to evacuate. The back patio had metal chairs that were moved a good 20+ feet into the shrubs and a trashcan that blew across the parking lot against the chain fence.

Welcome to the forum! Looking forward to your contributions.

[sammyk]

Saw an Etihad Cargo 748 this morning. For X Games?

[AUS]

Originally Posted by sammyk

Saw an Etihad Cargo 748 this morning. For X Games?

It was a diversion from IAH due to the storms last night.

[DoubleC]

Originally Posted by AUS

It was a diversion from IAH due to the storms last night.

I won't argue that you saw it, but I can't find the flight on Flightaware, and diversions very usually show up on there.

Isn't that Austin's first 748 then?

[Austin1971]

[q

[DoubleC]

Originally Posted by Austin1971

Nope. We've had them here before. It was an Atlas Air 748 divert from ORD enroute to IAH.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/GTI8142/history/20150526/0045Z/KORD/KAUS

When was that?

Also, I just saw the 748 myself earlier ago, along with a DHL 767 and FedEx DC10.

[Austin1971]

[QUOTE=DoubleC;7039913]When was that?

A

[Digatisdi]

A tantalising view of the Infill project was posted today. I'll see if I can catch a glimpse when I fly in tonight. I promise I won't trespass I'll just see what I can see from the areas that are open

[sammyk]

Saw an Atlas 744 (gold livery) at the terminal. Charter I presume?

[AUS]

Originally Posted by sammyk

Saw an Atlas 744 (gold livery) at the terminal. Charter I presume?

No it was a diversion. The plane was going from Luanda to Houston but diverted to Austin. A United 767 also diverted from Honolulu.

[San Diego-Honolulu]

Does anyone know how many booths are in the immigration facility? The international arrivals building does not look that large. I can't imagine it could handle the arrival of two large international flights at the same time with its current layout.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by San Diego-Honolulu

Does anyone know how many booths are in the immigration facility? The international arrivals building does not look that large. I can't imagine it could handle the arrival of two large international flights at the same time with its current layout.

Not quite sure what you mean by "immigration facility" but if your talking about the new customs, it should be big enough to easily handle two simultaneous international arrivals. Have you seen pictures of the inside? It's pretty big looking to me.

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by San Diego-Honolulu

Does anyone know how many booths are in the immigration facility? The international arrivals building does not look that large. I can't imagine it could handle the arrival of two large international flights at the same time with its current layout.

I don't remember the actual SF of the new customs area, but, it can now handle about 600 passengers/hour (i.e., customs can clear two BA B77W's simultaneous arrivals in one hour or less). BA also has 299-seat, four class B744's in their fleet. So, theoretically, two simultaneous arrivals of that equipment could clear in about an hour.

At this time, it is big enough for Austin. Having said that, I wish they would have planned a bit more for the future by making it a bit bigger (i.e., being able to handle roughly 1,000 passengers/hour).

But, that is Austin. Their gate expansion will probably be obsolete within 3-5 years after completion in 2017. At five percent growth, the current terminal facility will reach PAX capacity (15 million) by January 2022. At the current seven percent, terminal capacity will be reached by January 2020.

[DoubleC]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

I don't remember the actual SF of the new customs area, but, it can now handle about 600 passengers/hour (i.e., customs can clear two BA B77W's simultaneous arrivals in one hour or less). BA also has 299-seat, four class B744's in their fleet. So, theoretically, two simultaneous arrivals of that equipment could clear in about an hour.

At this time, it is big enough for Austin. Having said that, I wish they would have planned a bit more for the future by making it a bit bigger (i.e., being able to handle roughly 1,000 passengers/hour).

But, that is Austin. Their gate expansion will probably be obsolete within 3-5 years after completion in 2017. At five percent growth, the current terminal facility will reach PAX capacity (15 million) by January 2022. At the current seven percent, terminal capacity will be reached by January 2020.

Well said.

Wouldn't this be the final expansion of te Barbara Jordan terminal? I recall a paper called for an expanded East-concourse to 32-gates and a new terminal south of the BJT. I prefer this concept over jabbing two piers to the terminal to add gates. If airport planners see this growth coming, they could build the new terminal even as they're expanding the east concourse (hahaha).

[San Diego-Honolulu]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

I don't remember the actual SF of the new customs area, but, it can now handle about 600 passengers/hour (i.e., customs can clear two BA B77W's simultaneous arrivals in one hour or less). BA also has 299-seat, four class B744's in their fleet. So, theoretically, two simultaneous arrivals of that equipment could clear in about an hour.

At this time, it is big enough for Austin. Having said that, I wish they would have planned a bit more for the future by making it a bit bigger (i.e., being able to handle roughly 1,000 passengers/hour).

But, that is Austin. Their gate expansion will probably be obsolete within 3-5 years after completion in 2017. At five percent growth, the current terminal facility will reach PAX capacity (15 million) by January 2022. At the current seven percent, terminal capacity will be reached by January 2020.

Mahalo, that answers my question. And yes I meant customs not immigration. Would it be possible to build a satellite concourse directly south of the current terminal if the need to expand is necessary?

Something I just thought about, ABIA should look into how San Diego has attracted international service into their airport, particularly their nonstop flights to Tokyo on Japan Airlines and to Mexico on Volaris. San Diego has British Airways serving them with a 777-200 and now has Japan flying in with a 787. I think there are some similarities between the two airports. San Diego has to try and attract carriers that also serve or might be looking to serve nearby LAX, similar to how ABIA is dealing with DFW and IAH.

[ILUVSAT]

Originally Posted by San Diego-Honolulu

Mahalo, that answers my question. And yes I meant customs not immigration. Would it be possible to build a satellite concourse directly south of the current terminal if the need to expand is necessary?

Something I just thought about, ABIA should look into how San Diego has attracted international service into their airport, particularly their nonstop flights to Tokyo on Japan Airlines and to Mexico on Volaris. San Diego has British Airways serving them with a 777-200 and now has Japan flying in with a 787. I think there are some similarities between the two airports. San Diego has to try and attract carriers that also serve or might be looking to serve nearby LAX, similar to how ABIA is dealing with DFW and IAH.

I believe apart of the long-term development plan for ABIA is to build a new south terminal. Even further down the road, there is room between the current terminal and the to-be-constructed south terminal for two midfield concourses. In all, I believe the current max buildout would yield an airport with 125+ gates. Unless ABIA becomes a hub, I'll be long gone from this earth when ABIA reaches that size.

Oh, BA has plans to upgauge its equipment to their four-class B772ER this October on the AUS-LHR route.