AUSTIN, Texas – Southwest Airlines is expanding in Austin, bringing thousands of jobs.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will become a Southwest crew base starting in March.
The backstory:
About 1,500 Southwest crew members live in the Greater Austin area. Right now, they have to fly to their crew base to start their work trips. When they’re done with their work flights, they have to take another flight to get home. They will soon be able to start and end their work trips at their home airport in Austin.
“This is life-changing for them. They are no longer going to have to commute to work or commute home after they’ve flown a trip,” Sam Wilkins, vice president of TWU Local 556, or the Southwest flight attendants’ union, said.
Southwest’s expansion will bring 2,000 jobs to Austin by mid-2027. The new crew base will have pilots and flight attendants, plus management and support staff. The average salary for these new jobs is $180,000 per year.
AUS economic development announcement
Governor Greg Abbott, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and other local officials make a major economic development announcement alongside Southwest Airlines at Austin-Bergstrom international Airport.
Austin City Council approved the business expansion on Thursday.
“We’re strengthening Austin families at the same time as we’re strengthening Austin’s infrastructure,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said.
There is also money from state investments. $14 million comes from the Texas Enterprise Fund grant, and there is $375,000 to hire veterans.
“Texas ranks number one for economic development projects. This will add to that growth,” Gov. Greg Abbott said.
A command center will be built, as well as a flight attendant training facility. Southwest is also collaborating with the Austin Infrastructure Academy to provide youth training for jobs.
“Austin, given its size and growth, has been a critical consideration for quite a while. I can absolutely tell you this economic partnership made this decision easy,” Bob Jordan, CEO of Southwest Airlines, said.
“It is bringing high-paying jobs to Austin. All of our flight attendants are covered under the union contract, and we are extremely excited,” Wilkins said.
The Source: Information from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport news release.
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