Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Air Service topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Air service update: March capacity signals mixed recovery; several new routes announced
Summary
Airport staff said March shows a small increase in seats after a slowdown earlier in the year and outlined several seasonal and new routes scheduled to start later in 2025.
Jamie Kasimov, an airport air service representative, briefed commissioners that March year-over-year seats are up about 1% and the second quarter is projected up 1% in capacity. Kasimov said the third quarter currently shows roughly a 6% increase in seats (July through September).
Kasimov said airlines adjust schedules frequently and noted some specific changes: Delta announced a seasonal international flight to Cancun starting Dec. 20 through mid-April; Delta will end its Harlingen–Austin route in June. British Airways plans to begin double-daily service March 31. Hawaiian’s service to Austin concludes March 26. Southwest is projecting record daily departures this summer at Austin.
Kasimov read a list of new routes scheduled for March, including Chicago (Frontier), Milwaukee (Southwest), Orlando (Frontier), Cincinnati (Frontier) and Phoenix (Frontier). He cautioned that airline schedules can change as carriers update plans closer to travel dates.
Commissioners asked whether capacity gains would translate immediately into enplanement growth. Kasimov said seats for sale are a leading indicator but passenger enplanements depend on other demand factors. He also told the commission that Austin remains well served by multiple carriers, which should offer passengers alternatives if route changes prompt shifts between airlines.
