AUSTIN — Passengers flying Allegiant Air from Albuquerque to Austin got a nice little surprise on Thursday afternoon.
After being greeted by a water cannon salute, they walked out onto the tarmac and into a brand new terminal, with live music, Austin food and a vibe that takes you back in time.
“It speaks to that kind-of mid-century modern period, mid-‘60s. kind-of the golden age of jet travel. So, we wanted to create that kind of vibe, that retro vibe.”
The south terminal is a public-private partnership. Lone Star Holdings CEO Jeff Pearse says they’ve been granted a 30-year operating lease.
The first step was to transform the old building, that dates back to the Bergstrom Air Force Base. This is what it looked like last summer. The price tag for renovation was $12 million – and they did the work in just eight months.
One of the defining features is a canopy for passengers to walk underneath as they go from the plane to the terminal.
“Instead of just creating something, we wanted to do something that’s a little bit more compelling from a design standpoint,” Pearse said.
The Thursday afternoon flight from Albuquerque marked the official opening of the south terminal and the first time in nearly a decade ABIA [Austin-Bergstrom International Airport] has two terminals.
“The Barbara Jordin Terminal is currently configured at 25 gates and then this adds three additional gates, so there are a total of 28 gates now available to come in and out of Austin.
Christine Jarmer and her family were headed to Albuquerque for Easter. They’re from Houston, so they didn’t know about the grand opening.
“We’ve flown Allegiant before because of the good prices, so we booked it again just for the short-term we were going to be in Albuquerque, but it’s a great surprise!” Jarmer said.
Courtney Goff, with Allegiant Air, says they’re glad to be flying out of the new terminal.
“It gives us such an easy and accessible way for our passengers to get here, as opposed to a crowded larger terminal, so we’re really excited to have a little bit of privacy,” Goff said. “This great Austin patio as well as this cool mid-century feel for our passengers to be able to relax in the terminal and not be stressing about seating or which gate.”
Speaking of the patio, ABIA says it’s a first for a major airport in Texas.
“I like it. I like the outdoor food patio, the food truck,” Jarmer said. “It’s very Austin culture. That’s how it feels.”