Travelers began to see direct impacts from Austin Bergstrom-International Airport’s many construction projects last week when the airport closed TSA Checkpoint 3 to make way for expansions to the far west end of the terminal.
The closure is expected to last until 2026 — here’s what to know.
Why close Checkpoint 3?
The airport closed Checkpoint 3 to make way for crews to work on the West Infill expansion project, which will result in:
- 75,000 sqft of new space
- An new outbound baggage handling system with the capacity to process 4,000 bags per hour (compared to the current system’s capacity of 1,600 bags per hour)
- Six-to-eight new lanes at Checkpoint 3
Until the project is complete, travelers can use Checkpoints 1 and 2 West for general screening, Checkpoints 1 and 2 East for TSA PreCheck, or Checkpoint 1 for CLEAR.
What else is happening at ABIA?
Lots. The Journey With AUS multi-year expansion plan has several moving parts, with the following projects already in the works:
- West Gate Expansion | Expected completion date: late 2026
- 84,500 sqft of new space
- New third level mezzanine, quiet space, and playscape
- Three new gates
- Airline fuel facility | Expected completion date: this year
- New fuel facility to meet demand for 3-5% annual increase
And there’s more where that came from. Projects in the “design” and “envision” stage include:
- Adding 13,000 sqft of floor space in the ticketing-level atrium
- Building new baggage carousels, booths, and queuing space for international arrivals
- Constructing Concourse B, which will connect to the Barbara Jordan Terminal through an underground tunnel
- Removing and replacing the Red Garage to make way for a new arrivals and departure hall with expanded check-in and space for concessions and tenants
- Erecting a new, 6,500-7,500-space garage near the Blue Garage
See the full plan and learn more about Journey with AUS.