Austin airport prepares for heavy traffic ahead of total solar eclipse

As the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse inches closer in under two weeks, one Central Texas airport is getting ready for an influx of flyers from near and far. An Austin Bergstrom-International Airport representative told MySA it is “preparing for increased passenger traffic and potential operational adjustments during this period.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is warning airports within the path of totality, like AUS, to be prepared for the possibility of heavy traffic. AUS said it does not have a projected number of passengers for the week of Monday, April 8 yet, but it is treating the event like a typical busy travel day with early arrival tips for passengers.

The airport suggests that passengers arrive at least three hours before domestic flights and 3.5 hours before international flights minimum. Central Texas roads are projected to be extra crowded with people driving to their destinations and making sudden stops, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). 

“There is expected to be heavy vehicle traffic on all roads in Central Texas and certainly on the main arterial highways like Hwy 71 that is the only entrance and exit for the airport,” an AUS airport rep said. “Passengers are encouraged to monitor traffic conditions.”

The airport added that its rental car area will have long lines that can impact traffic into the airport. AUS said there will probably be more rental cars being returned after the eclipse starting on Monday afternoon through all of Tuesday, April 9. This is because many people will be traveling to Central Texas to see the one to five minute celestial event in the sky. 

AUS said people should give themselves plenty of time to return their rental cars even if they are not flying out of the airport and recommended that customers talk to their rental car companies about their returns, especially one-way returns. 

After recent reports of car thefts at AUS, the airport said it takes its “security very seriously every day” and will continuously have airport security staff in addition to APD coverage 24 hours a day. For peak travel days, the airport increases staffing across all areas of the airport in order to safely facilitate higher volumes of passengers.