Austin-Bergstrom International Airport’s latest expansion is finally starting to show above the construction walls, as crews raise the West Infill, a four-level build that will add more than 75,000 square feet to the Barbara Jordan Terminal. The airport shared a short construction video on February 4, 2026, revealing steel frames and scaffolded facades where a new security checkpoint and centralized baggage system are taking shape. AUS officials say the project is meant to speed screening and baggage handling as the city’s passenger counts keep climbing.
What’s taking shape
The West Infill will stack more than 75,000 square feet across the baggage claim, apron, concourse, mezzanine, and roof levels and is designed to house a centralized outbound baggage handling system plus a security checkpoint that can hold up to eight lanes. The expanded footprint will also carve out new ticketing counter space, offices for airport and TSA staff, and the guts needed to route a larger baggage system through the terminal. The airport’s project page lays out those details and notes the new screening equipment that is already in place at AUS checkpoints, according to the City of Austin.
Progress and timeline
Crews broke ground on the West Infill in April 2024, and this winter brought a key steel-installation milestone as the structure rose above the baggage hall. Project managers have described the steel setting as a crucial step toward enclosing the new levels and clearing the way for mechanical systems and baggage conveyors. The work remains on track for substantial completion in early 2026, based on recent project updates, as reported by the Austin Journal.
What travelers will notice
Passengers are already feeling the ripple effects. TSA Checkpoint 3 was shut down so crews could build into the west end of the terminal, and AUS has added lanes and reconfigured screening at the remaining checkpoints to keep traffic moving, according to KXAN. The airport also notes that CT scanners are now installed at checkpoints to provide 3D imaging of carry-on bags and cut down on manual bag checks, which officials say should both speed screening and sharpen detection. Until the infill is finished, travelers can expect detours, extra signage, and fenced work zones around the affected concourse.
Why it matters
The West Infill is one piece of the broader Journey With AUS program, a multiyear modernization push aimed at expanding capacity, adding gates, and upgrading passenger amenities across the airport. The near-term package that includes the outbound baggage system and the West Infill carries an estimated $241 million price tag and will be funded with airport revenues, bonds, and FAA grants rather than local taxes, according to reporting by MySA. Program managers, including WSP, say the infill will support the larger systems and gate work needed for the longer-term Concourse B plan.
When the infill opens in early 2026, it is expected to ease peak-time choke points with more screening lanes and faster checked-bag processing. AUS continues to post progress updates on its newsroom and social channels as crews work toward the finish line.
