It is already the third busiest international airport in Texas after Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston. Austin Bergstrom International Airport is the air gateway to the Texan capital, with traffic expected to once again exceed 12.5 million passengers by 2021. And it is increasingly sought after by European companies. Austin is a major economic and academic centre in Texas.
Austin is since 2019 connected five times a week to Frankfurt with Lufthansa. In 2020, British Airways also started three weekly flights from London Heathrow to the Texan capital.
Arrival of KLM and Virgin
But 2022 is already shaping up to be an excellent vintage. After announcing the launch of three weekly frequencies between Amsterdam and Austin by May 2020KLM finally decided to suspend the new route. The coronavirus pandemic was to blame.
The Dutch airline has finally confirmed a launch date. It will take effect on 28 March next. Either the three weekly frequencies previously operated by Boeing 787-9. The aircraft will feature three classes of service (Business, Premium Economy and Economy).
Another novelty, this time from the British company Virgin Atlantic. The carrier will operate from 25 May, four weekly flights between London Heathrow and Austin. The aircraft put into service on this route will also be a Boeing 787-9 with Upper Class (business), a premium economy class and traditional economy class.
Theft is part of the joint operating agreement on the North Atlantic between Virgin, Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM. This will enable passengers arriving from France to benefit from easier connections at both London Heathrow and Amsterdam.
Low-cost competition
Austin is also the scene of greater competition among American low-cost airlines. Ultra low-cost carrier Allegiant has inaugurated a base with three Airbus A320s serving around twenty destinations.
The company competes head-on with Southwest Airlinesthe leading carrier with a third of Austin's capacity. Southwest continues to strengthen its position at the hub. In March, the airline is launching flights to 9 new destinations, including Panama City Beach and Puerto Vallarta (Mexico) internationally.
