During SXSW, daily departures can reach roughly 36,000 passengers.
AUSTIN, Texas — With South by Southwest just days away, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is preparing for one of the busiest travel periods of the year. The surge comes at a challenging time for airports nationwide, as a partial federal government shutdown and the annual wave of spring break travelers strain TSA operations.
Over the weekend, federal officials reported significant delays across the country. Peak wait times on Sunday stretched to three-and-a-half hours at Houston Hobby Airport, while travelers in New Orleans faced waits of about an hour-and-a-half.
At Austin’s airport, security lines remained steady on Monday, with more than 29,000 passengers expected to pass through checkpoints.
Public Information Specialist for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Samantha Rojas said the airport considers anything above 35,000 passengers busy.
In a statement, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at Department of Homeland Security Lauren Bis pointed to the partial government shutdown as the driver behind the delays.
“These frontline heroes received only partial paychecks earlier this month and now face their first full missed paycheck, leading to financial hardship, absences and crippling staffing shortages,” Bis said.
Despite the challenges, AUS is gearing up for the massive influx of visitors that SXSW brings each year. Rojas noted that the two days following the festival typically rank among the busiest.
During SXSW, daily departures can reach roughly 36,000 passengers. To keep operations running smoothly, the airport is increasing staffing levels and urging travelers to plan ahead.
“Get here with plenty of time,” Rojas emphasized. “We always recommend passengers arrive two-and-a-half hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights.”
Ahead of the travel rush, airport officials have opened a new TSA checkpoint designed to reduce congestion and improve the flow of travelers through the terminal.