AUSTIN (KXAN) – While concertgoers caught the final acts of the 2024 Austin City Limits Music Festival, airport staff at the Austin Bergstrom Airport (AUS) prepared for one of the busiest days the airport has seen. 

With ACL’s Weekend Two wrapping up, AUS said it is projecting Monday to be one of the top 10 busiest days on record as music fans leave Austin. The airport is expecting to see around 37,000 passengers Monday. 

“Any day over 35,000 departing passengers is what AUS considers to be an incredibly busy day,” the press release read. 

Just because ACL is over does not mean the airport will be any less busy for the rest of October. Thousands of racing fans will flood into Austin for Formula 1 weekend, which starts Friday. 

In October 2023, AUS saw its busiest day ever recorded as travelers left Austin after the F1 weekend. 

On exceptionally busy days at the airport, AUS recommends the following:

Arrival Times

• 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. Lines for airline ticket counters that offer free or discounted checked luggage are expected to be long.
• Ensure carry-on items do not accidentally have prohibited items like pack bulky souvenirs, event programs and swag in checked luggage to avoid slow-downs in the passenger and carry-on screening process.

Dropping Off at the Barbara Jordan Terminal

• Use either the upper level for departures or the lower level for arrivals to drop off passengers. Choose whichever level is least congested – this helps you save time and spreads out our arriving cars more evenly.

Information for Allegiant and Frontier Passengers

• Passengers flying Allegiant or Frontier depart from The South Terminal, a separate terminal about 15 minutes south of the main Barbara Jordan Terminal. The two terminals are not connected and must be accessed separately. The South Terminal is located near US 183 and Burleson Road, at 10000 Logistics Lane.
• Allegiant and Frontier travelers should park on-site or budget an extra 30 minutes or more to wait for the shuttle at the main terminal and take the 20-minute drive to the South Terminal.

How the Airport Has Prepared

• Department Operations Center (DOC) Activation: AUS will activate the DOC to coordinate responses to any irregular operations or incidents that may arise during peak travel hours.
• Enhanced Staffing and Operational Readiness: AUS coordinates with airport partners, including airlines, TSA, Customs and Border Protection, concessions, and other airport operators, to ensure they are fully staffed and prepared. 
• AUS Response Volunteers: AUS activated its Event Response Team, bringing in volunteers from various Department divisions to support Guest Services in managing crowd control, organizing lines, and assisting travelers with questions. This additional support helps ensure a smooth journey for all passengers.