AUSTIN | ABIA Updates

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

...Having another large airport nearby would only limit ABIA. I don't think we should spend any money or effort in damaging our own airport's vitality.

FYI...under the idea, SAT and AUS would close and the region would only be served by a single regional airport.

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

FYI...under the idea, SAT and AUS would close and the region would only be served by a single regional airport.

And ABIA would be converted back to an Air Force Base.

[DoubleC]

Agreed on the discussions.

More realistically, San Marcos or New Braunfels could just start commercial service by serving regional routes to Houston and Dallas, much like Waco's airport has service to DFW (only flights are to DFW via American Eagle/Envoy). They wouldn't offer a lot of options/nonstops outside of Texas, but at least they would only have to make one stop to go to most places in the US, and beyond if need be. It's unlikely this would happen though, unless city leaders decide to make this a plan B to their "regional airport" idea.

@GoldenBoot: true, this is the ABIA thread, but the idea is a bit relevant to AUS, in which it brings up the possibility of an alternative to AUS and SAT, and not of some random airport way out in the middle of Kansas .

Aside from that...

So it's confirmed we will now have a 787-9 and a 767 flying a transatlantic into Austin this summer. Some say other transAt's could happen, but could Austin fill a third plane to Europe? I can't say it's unlikely since Austin has surprised us many times in recent years, especially with BA190/191, and then the Condor flight. Plus passenger traffic was incredible this summer.

Although would another airline like... KLM decide to serve a "secondary airport" alrport like Austin when there's already one daily transatlantic flying in, or would they prefer to fly into another similar airport like St Louis to "monopolize" on the transatlantic route? I say St Louis since I know they're trying to add a European flight (London, I think), plus their passenger numbers were 12 million last year.

[austlar1]

Originally Posted by DoubleC

Agreed on the discussions.

More realistically, San Marcos or New Braunfels could just start commercial service by serving regional routes to Houston and Dallas, much like Waco's airport has service to DFW (only flights are to DFW via American Eagle/Envoy). They wouldn't offer a lot of options/nonstops outside of Texas, but at least they would only have to make one stop to go to most places in the US, and beyond if need be. It's unlikely this would happen though, unless city leaders decide to make this a plan B to their "regional airport" idea.

@GoldenBoot: true, this is the ABIA thread, but the idea is a bit relevant to AUS, in which it brings up the possibility of an alternative to AUS and SAT, and not of some random airport way out in the middle of Kansas .

Aside from that...

So it's confirmed we will now have a 787-9 and a 767 flying a transatlantic into Austin this summer. Some say other transAt's could happen, but could Austin fill a third plane to Europe? I can't say it's unlikely since Austin has surprised us many times in recent years, especially with BA190/191, and then the Condor flight. Plus passenger traffic was incredible this summer.

Although would another airline like... KLM decide to serve a "secondary airport" alrport like Austin when there's already one daily transatlantic flying in, or would they prefer to fly into another similar airport like St Louis to "monopolize" on the transatlantic route? I say St Louis since I know they're trying to add a European flight (London, I think), plus their passenger numbers were 12 million last year.

Both KLM and American have not had great luck with flights from DFW to Amsterdam in the recent past. American quit trying a while back, and KLM only flies non stop four or five days a week during peak travel season. There is no non stop service between mid October and mid April. Hard to imagine KLM (and aren't they now owned by Air France?) starting a flight out of Austin.

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by austlar1

Both KLM and American have not had great luck with flights from DFW to Amsterdam in the recent past. American quit trying a while back, and KLM only flies non stop four or five days a week during peak travel season. There is no non stop service between mid October and mid April. Hard to imagine KLM (and aren't they now owned by Air France?) starting a flight out of Austin.

I think KLM flies direct to AMS from IAH daily using a B744.

Yeah, it's hard to say. I may almost bet Lufthansa would be the one to try the AUS market before KLM (to AMS) or Air France (to CDG). Since Condor is not flying that much, Lufthansa could continue the service year round (should the route be deemed successful). Also, other than LHR, I believe FRA would provide more connecting options than AMS or CDG to destinations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

[jbssfelix]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA is EZE...BAI is in Costa Rica.

Speaking of...Didn't that flight start this summer?

Whoops. Good catch!

[brando]

Parts of the In-fill have opened. Does anyone know when the terminal east end expansion will start?

[Austin1971]

Originally Posted by brando

parts of the in-fill have opened. Does anyone know when the terminal east end expansion will start?

a

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by Austin1971

Actual work on the gates won't begin until mid 2016.

Any more rumblings/info on that 12-gate "pier" to which you referred?

[Austin1971]

Originally Posted by goldenboot

any more rumblings/info on that 12-gate "pier" to which you referred?

i

[Jdawgboy]

I was under the impression that the gate expansion would start in January. I swear I read something saying that they are starting on the last apron section then start on the terminal expansion in Jan 2016. Why does it seem like they keep putting it off?

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I was under the impression that the gate expansion would start in January. I swear I read something saying that they are starting on the last apron section then start on the terminal expansion in Jan 2016. Why does it seem like they keep putting it off?

I believe that was in reference to the apron expansion - which must be completed prior to gate expansion.

[Austin1971]

O

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by Austin1971

Once we see the RCCF start being dismantled then the project has started. It will take several months of dirt and concrete work before the actual structure is built. From what I've heard the port is already a few months behind schedule due to changing project managers and having to renegotiate the contract for the dismantling of the RCCF. That must occur before anything else can move forward.

Oh, ok...btw, what is the RCCF?

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by the Genral

Oh, ok...btw, what is the RCCF?

I believe it stands for: "Regional Corrosion Control Facility."

[Jdawgboy]

So they are in charge of keeping the region from getting corroded...Makes sense.

[sammyk]

If I'm not mistaken this was an Air Force painting facility...designed for corrosion control of fighter jets and such.

[jbssfelix]

Allegiant is expanding service from AUS to CVG (Cincy) year-round starting in Feb.

[Jdawgboy]

Speaking of Allegiant, I just came across this article that gets pretty in depth. This part caught my attention.

Looking across the mid-size market place, Mr Bricker stated that “there is not a lot of connectivity between those markets” and that the trend of adding larger cities would continue. He cited the growth during the last year in Cincinnati, Memphis, and Indianapolis and more recently Austin. “So we’re really looking hard at those kind of markets and I think that’s going to be the story for the next 24 months or so.”

Lost the link then found it.

http://centreforaviation.com/analysi...-market-239386

[Jdawgboy]

So it looks like Virgin's Austin-Dallas route is not doing well and word is it may shut down.