Southwest Airlines is set to expand its operation at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), which is expected to result in the creation of 2,000 new jobs. With details shared at a recent news conference, Governor Greg Abbott and Southwest CEO Bob Jordan emphasized the economic boost this will bring to Austin, thanks to the establishment of a pilot and flight attendant crew base.
The bulk of the new positions will be captains, first officers, and flight attendants, in addition to support staff. The expansion which is to include a station Command Center and a training facility is not just about increasing the number of flights, it's about cementing Southwest's presence in the local community. Southwest's CEO Bob Jordan said, "This investment demonstrates our commitment to Austin and to our customers," as reported by the City of Austin's official website.
With a promising average salary pegged at $180,000 a year for many of these roles, Mayor Kirk Watson and other city figures see this as an opportunity to ensure that the residents can "=afford to live and build a life in our city."= Watson, recognized the deal's multi-faceted benefits stating, "This performance-based agreement is a win-win-win deal focused on creating good-paying jobs for Austinites, strengthening our local economy, and providing more investment in childcare and workforce development programs," as per information on the city's website.
The venture is fueled by a $14 million grant from the Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF), notable for its role in encouraging economic development within the state. The TEF is a performance-based initiative that, competes with out-of-state locations, when it comes to luring businesses to Texas and spurring job creation. More updates on the expansion including construction, and partnership developments are set to follow.
