Austin-Bergstrom Airport outlines new midfield concourse as part of multi-billion expansion to reduce terminal crowding

A new concourse is central to a long-term plan to add gates and rebuild key terminal areas

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) has outlined plans for a new midfield concourse intended to expand gate capacity and ease persistent crowding in the Barbara Jordan Terminal, as passenger volumes continue to strain spaces built for a smaller city.

The concourse project sits inside the airport’s broader “Journey With AUS” expansion and development program, a multi-year set of construction efforts that includes new gates, expanded passenger processing areas, and major changes to landside circulation and baggage handling. Recent agreements with major passenger airlines and cargo operators established an updated financial and operating framework for the next decade and tied the airport’s expansion scope to a larger gate buildout than earlier plans contemplated.

What the airport says the new concourse will deliver

Planning documents and recent city announcements describe a midfield concourse concept designed to significantly increase the airport’s gate count. The most current program descriptions released by the city include a new concourse with 26 gates, with the overall expansion scope described as moving from an earlier 20-gate concept to a 32-gate program as design and operational requirements are refined.

To support the new gate capacity, the program also includes airfield and support infrastructure such as expanded ramp operations and a tunnel connection between the existing terminal area and the concourse, with elements designed to allow future expansion beyond the initial build.

• New midfield concourse planned with dozens of gates as part of a phased buildout.
• Supporting projects include ramp and apron improvements and a terminal-to-concourse connection.
• Program budget estimates have been described as increasing beyond earlier multi-billion-dollar projections as scope is finalized.

Near-term construction focuses on terminal relief while the concourse is developed

While the concourse is positioned as the major capacity addition, airport leadership has emphasized interim projects meant to relieve chokepoints inside the existing terminal. In early 2026, AUS completed the West Infill expansion, adding more than 75,000 square feet across multiple levels and delivering a new security checkpoint scheduled to open to the public on February 23, 2026. Airport materials describe the work as aimed at improving passenger processing and reducing terminal congestion.

Other projects in the development program include additional gate capacity created through terminal-area expansions and temporary gate strategies intended to offset closures during construction, reflecting the operational challenge of building new infrastructure without significantly reducing day-to-day capacity.

Across the program, the airport’s stated objective is to expand gate and terminal capacity to better match demand, while maintaining operations during major construction.

Funding, timeline, and what to watch next

The airport has secured federal support for elements of the expansion, including FAA grant funding for passenger facility and tenant improvements and separate federal awards tied to the concourse project. The largest share of new gates is projected for the early 2030s, with nearer-term milestones concentrated in 2026 as terminal optimization work comes online and enabling infrastructure is delivered.

Next steps include continued design development, sequencing decisions that balance gate availability with construction impacts, and updated cost and schedule disclosures as the program moves from planning into sustained construction on the midfield concourse.