Delta Targets 150 Daily AUS Flights by 2031 Amid Texas Growth

Delta Air Lines is moving to sharply increase its footprint at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, pursuing a long-term plan to operate 150 daily flights and control 15 gates by 2031, a step that would reset the balance of power at one of Texas’s fastest-growing airports.

The push comes during the largest capital program in Austin airport history, with the City Council having authorized a $4 billion expansion that will add a new concourse, an underground tunnel, and a larger arrivals and departures hall. The city’s airline lease negotiations, underway in late 2025, will set who gets which gates and for how long—decisions that could shape Austin’s air service for the next decade and beyond.

Competing carrier plans and stakes

Southwest Airlines, the current market leader at AUS with about 39% of flights and 41% of seats, is not standing still. The carrier aims to grow from 10 to 18 gates and increase daily flights from roughly 130 to potentially 200 or more, making Austin its largest operation in Texas. That sets the stage for a drawn-out contest with Delta.

Delta’s plan to reach 150 daily flights depends on winning enough “preferential use” gates and keeping them through the 2026–2035 lease term, with a possible two-year extension. Airport leaders call the agreement pivotal because it locks in costs, timelines, and anchor tenants for the new concourse that will include 20–30 gates once finalized.

Visible moves by Delta

Delta’s strategy is already visible in its schedule and staffing:

• New nonstop service to Denver on November 9, 2025.
• New nonstop service to Columbus and Kansas City on June 7, 2026.
• Increased frequencies to San Francisco and Indianapolis.
• Opened a permanent flight attendant base in Austin in October 2025, creating hundreds of local jobs.

In 2025 alone, Delta carried more than one million passengers to and from Austin, a 12% year-over-year increase, according to the airline. Austin airport officials say these moves align with their plan to double throughput from about 15 million to more than 31 million annual passengers by the early 2030s.

Policy and infrastructure decisions

The most consequential near-term step is the airport’s “use and lease” agreement, expected to be finalized in Q4 2025. This document will settle key questions:

• Which airlines anchor the new concourse
• How many gates each airline controls
• What level of service carriers must maintain to keep those gates

Airlines typically want as many “preferential use” gates as possible because it gives them scheduling control. Some carriers may run only the minimum number of flights needed to hold a gate, which can limit competitors seeking access during busy times.

Ultra-low-cost carriers that previously used the soon-to-be-demolished South Terminal—such as Allegiant and Frontier—will move into the main Barbara Jordan Terminal but under less favorable month-to-month terms.

City officials describe the scope as unmatched in Austin aviation history. The Council’s August 28, 2025 vote to move forward with the expansion, with seven major airlines signing on, unlocked billions in funding and cleared the way for design and construction to ramp up.

• Final gate counts for the new concourse are due by January 2026.
• The underground tunnel will connect terminals and support higher passenger loads.
• The new concourse is expected to include 20–30 gates when finalized.

Delta’s senior leaders, including Paul Baldoni who heads network planning, say they intend for the company to become Austin’s leading global carrier. They point to route growth, a local workforce base, and premium lounges as tools to attract business and leisure travelers.

Airport CEO Ghizlane Badawi has welcomed the investments as a long-term boost to Central Texas, with more destinations and jobs. Southwest’s leadership—including CEO Bob Jordan—has publicly stated plans to maintain and expand dominance at AUS, underscoring that Austin is a core market for that airline’s next phase of growth.

Market stakes and passenger effects

Southwest is already expanding schedules and routes:

• Spring 2025: plans for up to 125 daily nonstop flights out of Austin.
• New or returning routes: Reno-Tahoe, Milwaukee, Panama City, Montrose, and San Juan.

If Southwest secures the requested 18 gates, industry watchers say it could push well past 200 daily flights in the years ahead, reinforcing its stronghold on high-frequency domestic service.

Delta is building a broader network mix that includes:

• More midcontinent links (e.g., Denver, Kansas City)
• Added frequencies to tech and finance hubs
• A long-term path that could support wider international access through partnerships once the new infrastructure is complete

Aviation analysts caution that Delta’s 150-flight target is ambitious and depends on three variables:

1. Final lease terms
2. On-time construction
3. Continued demand growth in Greater Austin

Some analysts describe the flight and gate numbers in public filings as “notional”—a planning stake that may shift as competitive pressure and construction milestones change.

Passenger-facing effects

Near-term benefits for travelers will include:

• More nonstop choices and increased daily frequencies on popular routes
• Added lounges, including an expanded Delta Sky Club and a planned American Airlines lounge
• A larger arrivals and departures hall that should ease congestion once open

Potential downsides or trade-offs:

• Fares could rise in some markets as airlines pass on higher operating costs and demand stays strong
• Low-cost carriers moved into the main terminal under month-to-month leases may face scheduling limits, pushing them toward off-peak departures
• Travelers may see a mix of lower connecting fares and higher last-minute prices during the buildout

“Gate policy matters: when a dominant carrier holds many preferential gates, smaller rivals can face hurdles adding flights, even if local demand supports them.”

Inside the terminal, low-cost carriers sharing gates in the main facility could mean better amenities but also more scheduling constraints—shaping when families, students, and small-business travelers find the best deals.

Regional and long-term implications

Stakeholders across Texas are watching whether Austin becomes more like Dallas—or charts a different path. The outcomes—gate rights, schedule density, and terminal design—could influence how other Texas airports approach their next lease cycles.

• Southwest’s all-737 fleet points to a domestic-heavy strategy at AUS.
• Delta’s global partners keep the door open to broader long-haul choices over time, if facilities and demand align.

The long-range question is how far Austin’s demand can stretch. The region’s growth has been strong, helped by corporate relocations and a busy events calendar. Still, forecasts hinge on steady construction progress and the new concourse opening on schedule.

If construction slips, pressure will build because gate scarcity tends to favor incumbents and can slow new-route launches. That’s why the lease’s service requirements and gate-use rules matter: they aim to balance long-term commitments with enough flexibility to add flights as soon as space becomes available.

Timeline summary

• 2025
  • Council authorized lease talks.
  • Delta’s Denver route launches in November 2025.
  • Southwest’s spring schedule adds depth across leisure and mountain markets.
• Q4 2025
  • Use and lease agreement slated for final signatures.
• January 2026
  • Final gate counts for the new concourse due; carriers must align growth plans.
• June 7, 2026
  • Delta opens Columbus and Kansas City service.
• Early 2030s
  • New concourse, tunnel, and arrivals/departures hall expected to come online, doubling capacity.

Who’s most affected

• Central Texas travelers (more nonstop options but variable fares)
• Airport workers (new pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, gate agents)
• Local businesses (better same-day access to key markets)
• Families depending on nonstop flights for medical care or school visits

City aviation leaders say the strongest signal to watch this winter is the final gate map tied to the lease:

• If Delta lands double-digit gates with broad time-of-day control, its path to 150 daily flights becomes clearer.
• If Southwest secures the majority of new-concourse positions, it could drive schedules past 200 daily flights and cement Austin as a top-tier base.

Other signatory carriers—American, United, JetBlue, Alaska, and Spirit—appear set for steadier growth, aiming to hold share rather than chase headline-grabbing expansions.

Where to get updates and practical advice

Travelers looking for official project updates and terminal maps can follow the airport’s announcements at https://www.austintexas.gov/airport.

Airport managers plan to post construction timelines, lane closures, and terminal changes ahead of major milestones to help passengers adjust.

Practical tips:
– Book early for peak dates
– Check route changes often
– Watch for schedule drops around the lease signing and the January gate decision window

As construction progresses, the shape of Austin’s future air service will come into view—one gate, and one flight bank, at a time.