June was a month of marginal gains for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, with a slight uptick in passenger traffic reported. According to figures released by the City of Austin, the airport saw passenger numbers climb to 2,014,198 in June 2025, a modest increase of 0.06% over the same month in 2024. Despite minor fluctuations among airlines, overall enplanements inched up by 0.04%, with 1,023,218 flyers embarking from AUS. Southwest Airlines experienced a decrease, down by 0.6%, while Delta Air Lines enjoyed a sizeable jump of 10.6%. On the decline, American Airlines saw a significant drop of 16.8% in its passenger numbers.
It's not just passengers coming through Austin's gates; cargo traffic also recorded noteworthy changes in June. Overall, air cargo was down by 14.27% at 21,734,511 lbs, yet international cargo bucked that trend with an increase of 7.27%. Among the carriers, Air Transport International led with a 14.4% rise in the cargo carried, while Federal Express saw its volume dwindle dramatically by 47.2%. UPS managed a 7.2% lift, aligning with an increase in international air cargo flows.
While passenger counts for June might have seen slight shifts, the half-yearly figures present a more nuanced picture. From January through June 2025, AUS dealt with an overall 4.55% fall in passenger traffic year-over-year. Specific airlines felt the changes keenly; American Airlines' passengers plummeted by 21.6%, whereas Frontier Airlines bucked the trend with a staggering 228.2% surge in flyers. The breadth of these shifts in patronage reflects the ever-evolving preferences and fortunes of air travel entities.
The cargo landscape through the first half of the year also mirrored this mixed bag of fortunes. With a 10.82% fall in total air cargo compared to the previous year, the airport handled 134,363,585 lbs. International cargo remained an outlier, however, with a healthy boost of 9.97%. Notably, Federal Express's drop stood out, marking a 43% decrease, yet Air Transport International continued to swell its numbers with a 6.3% increase in cargo carried. In terms of aircraft operations, General Aviation took a slight hit, down 2.47%, while combined operations, which include both commercial and military, reduced by 1.54%.
The airport's role as a vital node in Austin’s infrastructure can't be understated, even as the fluctuation in air traffic provides insights into broader economic trends. As airlines and cargo carriers adapt to the changing market dynamics, Austin-Bergstrom's ability to maintain a near-steady state amid these shifts suggests a resilience that's emblematic of the city's spirit.
