As the final acts of the 2024 Austin City Limits Music Festival come to a close, the Austin Bergstrom Airport (AUS) is gearing up for what is expected to be one of its busiest days on record. With Weekend Two of ACL wrapping up, the airport is anticipating around 37,000 departing passengers on Monday, making it one of the top 10 busiest days ever.
While the music festival may be ending, the airport won’t be slowing down for the rest of October. Thousands of racing fans are set to descend upon Austin for the Formula 1 weekend starting Friday. Last year in October 2023, AUS experienced its busiest day ever as travelers departed after the F1 weekend.
During exceptionally busy days at the airport, AUS has some recommendations for travelers:
– Arrive at the terminal at least 2.5 hours early for domestic flights and 3 hours early for international flights.
– Expect lines at TSA, airline ticket counters, rental car returns, and other passenger processing services.
– Carry-on items should not contain prohibited items to avoid delays in the screening process.
For those dropping off passengers at the Barbara Jordan Terminal:
– Choose either the upper or lower level based on congestion to save time.
– Allegiant and Frontier passengers depart from The South Terminal, located about 15 minutes south of the main terminal.
AUS has taken several steps to prepare for the influx of travelers:
– Department Operations Center (DOC) Activation: AUS will activate the DOC to coordinate responses to any irregular operations or incidents during peak travel hours.
– Enhanced Staffing and Operational Readiness: AUS is working with airport partners to ensure they are fully staffed and prepared.
– AUS Response Volunteers: The Event Response Team is in place to assist with crowd control and help travelers with any questions.
With these preparations in place, AUS is ready to handle the record-breaking day ahead as music fans and racing enthusiasts depart Austin, ensuring a smooth journey for all passengers.