Airport Experience® News - Customer Service Issue 2025

DIRECTOR’S CHAIR

Right: The West Gate Expansion at AUS is currently underway and is projected to be completed early next year. The three new gates and related amenities are just one element of the Journey With AUS capital program that eventually will result in the addition of 20-30 new gates in a new concourse, complete with expanded concessions offerings, among other projects.

building a new seven-level parking garage, another enabling project as we have to remove and demolish the red garage. The new arrival and departure hall is under design, and that will modernize the front door of AUS, which is really the front door to Austin and Central Texas for millions of travelers every year. And this project will include new curb, new roadways, expanded ticketing, checking areas, a consolidated security checkpoint, a new baggage claim area, more concessions and public art installations. The new concourse, Concourse B, will be connected to the current Barbara Jordan terminal via an underground tunnel. We’re still finalizing the lease negotiations with the airlines, but we know that we will be building anywhere between 20 to 30 gates. This is what will unlock the capacity we need for decades to come. WARD: AUS has a smaller terminal that is operated by a private entity, correct? What’s the status of that terminal? BADAWI: That facility will be demolished next year, because to complete the midfield taxiway we have to demolish the South Terminal. At the beginning of next year, we will be moving the two airlines that operate out of the South Terminal to the Barbara Jordan terminal. WARD: None of the new facilities be privately managed, correct? BADAWI: That’s correct. We will manage them all moving forward. WARD: Moving to concessions, can you share how your in-terminal concessions are doing, and secondly, share any plans to either change or enhance the program going forward?

BADAWI: Our concession revenue for the year through June is only down by 1% compared to a 4% decrease in passenger activity. That shows that our concession program is strong and is meeting our expectations. We will have a lot of new opportunities in the near term – for example, we will issue a RFP soon for [concessions in] the three gates expansion. The new departure hall will have concessions and, of course, Concourse B, as a brand-new concourse, will have a lot of opportunities. We’re looking also into [changes in] Concourse A. We’re working with a consultant to complete the master plan for our concession program that will blend the best of Austin’s local culture and Central Texas local culture with recognized national brands. Travelers consistently tell us that they love our

local concepts so they will remain a centerpiece. Sometime next year we will be releasing the RFP for all the new concession spaces related to the Journey With AUS. We want to make sure that small and local businesses understand the opportunities available to them and how to prepare to participate in our concession program, so we’re hosting numerous educational workshops and “meet the prime” events. WARD: Will the opportunities be released in packages, or will you have a single prime or other approach? BADAWI: It will be multiple packages. We have three primes today. We’re looking forward to the partnership with prime firms, working with them in partnership to bring their concepts to life and partnering with on technology and enhancing that passenger experience.

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AX NEWS OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2025