A Comparative: Denver and Austin-Bergstrom International Airports ...

Submitted by Denver International Airport Research, as a part of DEN Executive Office
A Comparative: Denver and Austin-Bergstrom International Airports
Runways 6
At a Glance
Denver International
(IATA code: DEN)
5 – 12,000 ft.
1 – 16,000 ft.
Average daily flights 1,739 483
Capital improvement South Terminal Redevelopment:
terminal hotel, FasTracks rail;
airfield improvements
Austin-Bergstrom
International Airport
(IATA code: AUS)
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1 – 9,000 ft.
1 – 12,248 ft.
3 Helipads
Potential third runway; Taxiway
system; Terminal expansion;
Low Cost Carrier Terminal, deice
system; consolidation of rental
car facility
Annual passengers 52,849,132 (2011) 9,080,875 (2011)
Annual cargo 232,140 (Tons, 2011) 69,567 (Tons, 2011)
Nonstop destinations 178
22 Int’l in 8 countries (Canada,
Costa Rica, Germany, Mexico,
UK, Iceland, Dominican
Republic, and Japan*)
*Nonstop service to Japan begins March 2013
Economic impact $22.3 billion
supports 217,500 jobs
Airlines 15
-Hub for United, Frontier, and
focus city for Southwest and
regional carrier Great Lakes
-5 foreign-flag carriers
(Aeromexico, Air Canada,
British Airways, Icelandair,
Lufthansa)
39
1 Int’l – Cancún, Mexico
$3.6 billion
supports 40,000 jobs
9
- Alaska, American, Delta,
Frontier, jetBlue, Southwest,
United, and US Airways
Year Built 1995 Bergstrom Air Force Base –1942
Passenger Service -1999
Ownership, Management & Employment
Denver International Airport is owned and operated by the City and County of Denver. The
Manager of Aviation is appointed by the Mayor of Denver. Denver’s Department of Aviation
employs approximately 1,000 people.
Austin-Bergstom International Airport is owned by the City of Austin and operated by the
Department of Aviation (DOA). Austin-Bergstrom International Airport opened on May 23,
1999. Although the airport is relatively new, the Aviation Department has decades of

experience. In 1958, it began overseeing Austin's City owned airport operations and
maintenance. The Department has operated as a self-supporting entity since 1972. It does
not receive any general fund subsidy and has paid for all general obligation debt issued from
airport generated funds.
Passenger Traffic
Denver International Airport served more than 52 million passengers in 2011 and ranked as
the fifth-busiest airport in North America and the eleventh-busiest airport in the world.
Austin-Bergstrom served more than nine million passengers in 2011, ranking among the top
50 airports in the U.S.
Denver’s central location makes it a natural connect point for transcontinental travelers. As
a result, over 45 percent of passengers in Denver never leave the airport – they are simply
connecting to other flights. In addition, Denver is one of the largest domestic hub airports
in the U.S. with over 23 million annual domestic passengers beginning or ending their trip in
Denver. International traffic at Denver accounts for two million passengers annually –
approximately four percent of the airport’s total passenger traffic.
Austin-Bergstom is the airport servicing the Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA),
consisting of Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties. The secondary service area of the ASA
includes Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Lee, and Llano counties.
Passenger Airlines
Denver is the third-largest hub for United, a member of the Star Alliance. Denver is also the
largest hub for low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines and regional carrier Great Lakes Airlines. In
addition, Denver has quickly become one of the largest cities in Southwest Airlines’ low-cost
network and now ranks as the carrier’s second-largest station.
Denver has scheduled commercial passenger air service by 15 airlines. Following the trend
of the data presented above, most of the airlines serving Denver are U.S.-flag carriers flying
to domestic destinations. Five foreign-flag carriers – Aeromexico, Air Canada, British
Airways, Icelandair, and Lufthansa– operate at Denver.
Austin is served by nine domestic airlines, including Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier,
jetBlue, Southwest, United, and US Airways. Southwest, through it’s wholly owned
subsidiary AirTran, provides nonstop service to Austin’s international destination, Cancún,
Mexico.
Nonstop Destinations
Passengers can reach more than 175 nonstop destinations from Denver, depending on the
season. Due to DEN’s strength as a domestic hub, the majority of these destinations are in
the United States. DEN has nonstop service to 20 international cities in seven countries –
Germany, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Costa
Rica – are served nonstop from Denver. United Airlines recently announced that it would
initiate nonstop service between Denver and Tokyo-Narita, Japan, in March 2013. Tokyo
will be DEN’s 21 st international destination and help DEN achieve the benchmark of 180
destinations.
AUS offers scheduled nonstop passenger service to 38 domestic destinations and one
international city, Cancún, Mexico. In 2007, Mexican carrier VivaAerobus announced plans
to operate their Boeing 737 aircraft to Austin with six new non-stop flights to the Mexican
cities Cancún, Guadalajara, León/Bajío, Monterrey, Puebla, and Querétaro. In 2009,
because of the Swine Flu epidemic VivaAerobus ceased flights from Austin-Bergstrom
International Airport.
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Cargo
Cargo operations have been declining at DEN since 2001, with the exception of a slight
uptick in 2010. Cargo development at Denver has long been focused on WorldPort. The
facility includes two 60,000- square-foot buildings on airport land off Peña Boulevard. In
early 2008, DIA bought WorldPort from previous developers, and airport management is
working to develop a strategy to best market the facility.
Similarly, cargo operations at Austin airport have been in slight decline since 2001. Austin’s
cargo operations are centralized at CargoPort, a 155,000-square-foot air cargo facility at
AUS. CargoPort operates on a continuing $13 million partnership and operating agreement
with Federal Express, Airborne Express and Burlington Air Express.
Terminals, Concourses & Growth
Denver’s signature tent roof houses the airport’s Jeppesen Terminal, and passengers catch
flights on over 90 gates located on Concourses A, B and C. A new regional jet commuter
facility on Concourse B opened in 2007, making connections that much easier for DIA’s
growing number of passengers. DIA is in the final stages of an update to the airport master
plan that provides a framework for the airport’s growth through the 2030/2035 timeframe.
In the near term, growth at DEN will take place as part of the South Terminal
Redevelopment Program which will integrate Jeppesen Terminal with an on-airport hotel and
the FasTracks station. Initial plans for a seventh runway are also underway, with a
completion date in the 2015/2020 timeframe.
Austin-Bergstrom’s Barbara Jordan Terminal was designed by the Austin firm of Page
Southerland Page with associate architect Gensler. The terminal is 660,000 square feet
with a total of 25 gates. Inside the terminal, many local restaurants have leased concession
space so that visitors can get a "taste of Austin" as they come through. The terminal also
has a live music stage on which local bands perform in keeping with the spirit of Austin's
proclamation as "The Live Music Capital of the World." The terminal is connected to a 3,000
space parking garage used for public parking as well as rental car pick-up and return.
A new dedicated facility known as the South Terminal Austin was approved by the Austin
City Council in order to accommodate the arrival of Mexican-based, low-cost airline,
VivaAerobus, which launched operations on May 1, 2008. That terminal was closed on June
1, 2009, after VivaAerobus terminated service to Austin.
Revenue Generation
In terms of sources of revenue, space rentals rank first for DEN, with parking and airline
landing fees as the second- and third-largest generators of revenue for DEN, respectively.
Other sources of non-airline revenue include land rents from farming operations and oil
drilling on airport property. The top three sources of revenue for AUS are space rental fees,
parking, and rental car fees.
Environmental Management
Denver is one of the leading airports in the world in terms of environmental management.
In fact, DEN is the only international airport in the United States with an ISO 14001-
certified Environmental Management System (EMS) that encompasses the entire facility. In
addition, DEN is a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National
Environmental Performance Track Program and the Colorado Department of Health and
Environment’s Leadership Program. DEN has two solar panel fields, with a third scheduled
to open in August 2011, that produce enough energy to both power the solar fields and run
the people-mover train system that transports passengers between concourses. DEN is
committed to incorporating sustainable principles in the airport’s operations and activities.
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Austin-Bergstrom is a model for sustainable development. Energy efficiency, improved air
and water quality, water conservation, and the efficient use of resources are examples of
the Austin’s innovative approach to sustainability. The terminal building and its central
heating and cooling systems are among the most reliable and energy efficient type
available. With the addition of thermal storage, the plant will provide a peak electrical
reduction in excess of 1400 kW. This equates to a 48% reduction in peak demand.
The reuse and recycling of the previous structures of the Bergstrom Air Force Base
infrastructure and facilities represented a highly innovative use of scarce resources.
Activities such as the relocation of military housing, reuse of fuel tanks, recycling of
concrete and the salvage of building components conserved resources and reduced waste
streams.
Art
DEN’s Public Art Program features 26 site-specific works created by 39 artists and includes
sculptures, murals and installations. The pieces are located in the landscape, the
architecture of Jeppesen Terminal and concourses, and in the train tunnels and
communication systems. Along with the permanent art collection, the airport has an
exhibition program that includes several venues with changing exhibits. A theme is
developed for each exhibit from an artistic point of view and interpretation. The program
collaborates with museums, cultural institutions and arts organizations to present the
highest quality two- and three-dimensional work.
Through 11 permanent art fixtures, the art in the Barbara Jordan Terminal of Austin-
Bergstrom International Airport contributes to a sense of arrival into Austin by
communicating numerous literal and symbolic references to the region's geography,
landmarks, history, diverse cultures, and the spirit of the people.
As part of the Austin Public Art Program, the Austin airport frequently features live local
music to entertain travelers. The music is usually performed on weekday afternoons. The
main stage is near Ray Benson's Roadhouse (this is in the center of the terminal on the
concourse level). Music is performed at other smaller stages throughout the week, as well.
Awards
In 2012, for the sixth consecutive year, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport was highly
ranked for customer service. Austin’s airport ranked fourth among airports in North
America, regardless of size, by Airport Council International’s (ACI) 2011 Airport Service
Quality (ASQ) passenger survey. In addition, Travel + Leisure magazine's July 2010 issue
rated Austin-Bergstrom International Airport #9 on its best airports list.
For seven straight years – between 2005 and 2011 – Denver International was honored as
the Best Airport in North America by Business Traveler Magazine. DEN also ranked second
in overall customer satisfaction by J.D. Power & Associates in 2010.
For more information, visit www.flydenver.com and www.ci.austin.tx.us/austinairport/.
Sources: Denver International Airport statistics; Denver International Airport Web site;
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Web site; Air Transport Intelligence
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