AUSTIN | ABIA Updates - Page 183

masonh2479 · #**3641** Posted **Dec 4, 2017, 10:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoubleC

Maybe next year every month will see at least a million passengers pass; we didn’t have any month reach a million until 2014.

The chance of January 2018 being over a million is there, I don’t know about February quite yet though.

ILUVSAT · #**3642** Posted **Dec 4, 2017, 11:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by masonh2479

The chance of January 2018 being over a million is there, I don’t know about February quite yet though.

Actually, there is a chance. Let's see how January goes and if the airport maintains its double digit growth.

masonh2479 · #**3643** Posted **Dec 4, 2017, 11:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILUVSAT

Actually, there is a chance. Let's see how January goes and if the airport maintains its double digit growth.

Yep there is a good chance if the double digit growth is maintained. I just wonder how long AUS can continue to grow at such a fast pace. Let’s hope the growth has only just started

masonh2479 · #**3644** Posted **Dec 5, 2017, 12:13 AM**

ABIA Bi-Weekly Construction Update

http://www.austintexas.gov/blogs/con...ruction-update

GoldenBoot · #**3645** Posted **Dec 5, 2017, 6:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by masonh2479

Yep there is a good chance if the double digit growth is maintained. I just wonder how long AUS can continue to grow at such a fast pace. Let’s hope the growth has only just started

There is a growth ceiling. The amount of growth is capped by the total number of available seats.

Therefore, growth will eventually slow to 0% if no more flights are added and/or airlines decide not to up-guage their equipment on already established routes.

Conversely, should the economy falter, flights are cut, and/or airlines make the change to smaller aircraft on current routes, the airport could see negative growth.

ABIA is heading for roughly 13.8 million passengers served in 2017. When including average load factor, one can see that ABIA already surpasses the "operational capacity" in terms of total number of available seats vs. designed maximum PAX (even when including the new addition set to come online in 2019). And, yes, most airports may exceed their operational capacity by those same terms. But, by how much, is an interesting metric.

StoOgE · #**3646** Posted **Dec 5, 2017, 7:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

There is a growth ceiling. The amount of growth is capped by the total number of available seats.

Therefore, growth will eventually slow to 0% if no more flights are added and/or airlines decide not to up-guage their equipment on already established routes.

Conversely, should the economy falter, flights are cut, and/or airlines make the change to smaller aircraft on current routes, the airport could see negative growth.

ABIA is heading for roughly 13.8 million passengers served in 2017. When including average load factor, one can see that ABIA already surpasses the "operational capacity" in terms of total number of available seats vs. designed maximum PAX (even when including the new addition set to come online in 2019). And, yes, most airports may exceed their operational capacity by those same terms. But, by how much, is an interesting metric.

It seems incredibly clear that Austin needs to expand again once the current expansion is complete. Even continued growth at half the current rate is going to become an issue before the airport could possibly do anything about it.

khowaga · #**3647** Posted **Dec 6, 2017, 12:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoOgE

It seems incredibly clear that Austin needs to expand again once the current expansion is complete. Even continued growth at half the current rate is going to become an issue before the airport could possibly do anything about it.

I’m trying to imagine what the chaos down at the gate 2-3-4 end is going to be like when a 747 full of passengers is lingering around waiting to board next summer. (Yegods, can you imagine if BA is delayed an hour and all those folks are hanging around on top of the Condor pax??)

The most ‘obvious’ solution is for operations to extend into the evening later than they do currently—there’s not a lot happening after 7 pm. The South Terminal can only accommodate so much traffic, but since it’s currently closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays it does have a bit of room to grow as well.

But, yes, there’s a definite cap on the amount of possible growth until the terminal expands significantly.

StoOgE · #**3648** Posted **Dec 6, 2017, 12:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by khowaga

I’m trying to imagine what the chaos down at the gate 2-3-4 end is going to be like when a 747 full of passengers is lingering around waiting to board next summer. (Yegods, can you imagine if BA is delayed an hour and all those folks are hanging around on top of the Condor pax??)

The most ‘obvious’ solution is for operations to extend into the evening later than they do currently—there’s not a lot happening after 7 pm. The South Terminal can only accommodate so much traffic, but since it’s currently closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays it does have a bit of room to grow as well.

But, yes, there’s a definite cap on the amount of possible growth until the terminal expands significantly.

That BA flight is *already* a nightmare. There were three flights all waiting to board when I was flying to London last month and getting to the gate was an absolute nightmare.

khowaga · #**3649** Posted **Dec 6, 2017, 12:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoOgE

That BA flight is *already* a nightmare. There were three flights all waiting to board when I was flying to London last month and getting to the gate was an absolute nightmare.

Aeromexico, with its 75 passenger plane, was a nightmare...I haven’t taken BA since they started work on the extension, but it wasn’t exactly roomy beforehand...

freerover · #**3650** Posted **Dec 8, 2017, 9:19 PM**

There was some surprising drama at the council meeting yesterday. 2 of the 9 contracts were postponed for consideration until next week. The first was a contract to Host which would bring 24 Diner and Parkside restaurants. The complaint was from Blacks BBQ and Threadgill's via Parodies. Threadgill's is desperate for a location because they think their current location is going to have to close. I can't say anything about the proposals but as a consumer I would rather have 24 diner than Threadgill's and I don't think another BBQ place is that appealing.

http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=288441
http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=288595
http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=288442

The other item was the for the Express Spa and Massage vendor which was going to XpresSpa. The complaint is from airport current spa vendor Knot Anymore Spas. Knot Anymore feels like they should get it because they have been operating at the airport. XpresSpa thinks they should get it because they had the highest scored proposal: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=288452 Info about RFP: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=288600

The short of it is if the airport should go with the better package or an existing vendor.

masonh2479 · #**3651** Posted **Dec 8, 2017, 9:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freerover

There was some surprising drama at the council meeting yesterday. 2 of the 9 contracts were postponed for consideration until next week. The first was a contract to Host which would bring 24 Diner and Parkside restaurants. The complaint was from Blacks BBQ and Threadgill's via Parodies. Threadgill's is desperate for a location because they think their current location is going to have to close. I can't say anything about the proposals but as a consumer I would rather have 24 diner than Threadgill's and I don't think another BBQ place is that appealing.

http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=288441
http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=288595
http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=288442

The other item was the for the Express Spa and Massage vendor which was going to XpresSpa. The complaint is from airport current spa vendor Not Anymore Spas. Not Anymore feels like they should get it because they have been operating at the airport. XpressStar thinks they should get it because they had the highest scored proposal: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=288452 Info about RFP: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=288600

The short of it is if the airport should go with the better package or an existing vendor.

A Chick-fil-a or a Whataburger would be nice!

MichaelB · #**3652** Posted **Dec 8, 2017, 11:00 PM**

Local... all local vendors please. No generic DFW choices what ever they do.

I fly a lot ( as I'm sure others on here do)
I really like coming home to an airport that has a sense of place and is not just
another mall anywhere in the world.

StoOgE · #**3653** Posted **Dec 8, 2017, 11:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by khowaga

Aeromexico, with its 75 passenger plane, was a nightmare...I haven’t taken BA since they started work on the extension, but it wasn’t exactly roomy beforehand...

Customs is usually fine in Austin, but it's hilarious that 50% of the flight is Global Entry every time so the GE line winds up being longer (but moving faster).

Last time I went through it there was a fire or something in the baggage and TSA wouldn't release the luggage to anyone for almost 2 hours. Jetlag nightmare. and because we hadn't re-immigrated yet we couldn't just leave and have our bags shipped.

freerover · #**3654** Posted **Dec 8, 2017, 11:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Local... all local vendors please. No generic DFW choices what ever they do.

I fly a lot ( as I'm sure others on here do)
I really like coming home to an airport that has a sense of place and is not just
another mall anywhere in the world.

Does Knot Anymore feel like a local vendor since they only operate at the airport?

clubtokyo · #**3655** Posted **Dec 8, 2017, 11:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Local... all local vendors please. No generic DFW choices what ever they do.

I fly a lot ( as I'm sure others on here do)
I really like coming home to an airport that has a sense of place and is not just
another mall anywhere in the world.

Totally agree! Keep it local and unique.

masonh2479 · #**3656** Posted **Dec 15, 2017, 4:09 AM**

Delta airlines planned RDU upscale to a 717 as of March 2018 has been cancelled. The plane will remain a CRJ-900 for the time being.

In other words, airport vendors for the upcoming terminal extension have been revealed.
https://communityimpact.com/austin/c...ncil-decision/

jbssfelix · #**3657** Posted **Dec 15, 2017, 3:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by masonh2479

In other words, airport vendors for the upcoming terminal extension have been revealed.
https://communityimpact.com/austin/c...ncil-decision/

I know some people will moan at the idea of a Starbucks coming to ABIA, but I personally think it's good to have a sprinkling of big national brands in there as well. I, personally, have had a craving or two for a Chick-Fil-A sandwich or Starbucks Frappecaloriebomb while waiting for my plane.