As Austin-Bergstrom International Airport releases its latest passenger and cargo traffic figures, a mixed picture of travel and transport trends emerges from the recent report. In a noticeable dip, the total passenger traffic for April 2025 saw a decline of 6.43% compared to the same period last year, with enplanements also down by 6.51%, according to data published by the City of Austin's official website.
The figures lay bare the challenges and varying fortunes among air carriers. Southwest Airlines witnessed an 8.6% reduction in passengers, while American Airlines experienced a sharp 19.3% decline. In contrast, Delta Air Lines saw passengers increase by 9%, and Frontier Airlines surged with a jump of 212.9%. The volatility was not confined to the domestic carriers; international airlines like British Airways and Aeromexico also reported growth, with passengers up by 28.9% and 57.2%, respectively.
Turning to cargo operations, the airport's total air cargo for April reached nearly 23.9 million pounds, a downturn of 9.64% from April of the previous year. Air Transport International, however, bucked the trend by carrying 13.4% more cargo than in April 2024. Among other carriers, Federal Express saw a steep decrease in cargo, transporting 41.6% less, while United Parcel Services saw an increase of 19.4% in their cargo operations.
When extending the lens to a year-to-date perspective, between January and April 2025, the airport handled over 6.3 million passengers, marking a decrease of 5.36% compared to the same timeframe in 2024. However, Frontier Airlines again stands out with an astounding 315.2% increase in passengers over the four-month span. On the international cargo front, there was an uptick of 9.09% despite the broader downward trend in cargo numbers, which, overall, were down by 9.71% compared to the same period last year. Within the detailed statistics, Sun Country Airlines carried 22.7% more cargo, offering a bright spot in an otherwise subdued report.
The figures for aircraft operations mirrored the contraction seen in passenger and cargo traffic. General aviation operations for April were slightly down, at a 2.67% decrease. Meanwhile, combined operations—including commercial and military—showed a modest decline of 1.39%. The year-to-date numbers also reflected this downward shift, with general aviation operations and combined operations dropping by 1.58% and 2.12%, respectively, further reinforcing the notion that the skies over Austin are a little less crowded than in the past year.
