Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) News

For immediate release

November 1, 2011

Austin’s airport opens cell phone waiting area for passenger pick-up

AUSTIN, TEXAS -On November 1, 2011, a cell phone waiting area for passenger pickup began operations at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. An Austin City Council initiative, the cell phone waiting area is designed to allow those picking up travelers to drive to and wait, free of charge, until their passenger arrives and calls to be picked up. Real-time flight information monitors on site give arrival status.

In line with the City Council’s sustainability efforts, the cell phone waiting area eliminates the need to circle airport roads in one’s vehicle. This reduces fuel use and emissions.

The cell phone waiting area is located conveniently close to the terminal, a drive just seconds away from curbside. Once the meeter and traveler make phone contact, the meeter can easily drive to the lower level curb to pickup their arriving passenger.

The free cell phone waiting area is located on 2801-A Spirit of Texas Drive. From TX 71 East bound (from Austin), take the exit for “Airport Cargo/Service Entrance” and turn right onto Spirit of Texas Drive. Go forward through the four-way stop and the cell phone waiting area is on the left. From TX -71 West bound (coming from Bastrop), take the airport exit. Cross Presidential Blvd. (first traffic signal) and take a left on Spirit of Texas Drive (at four-way stop). Follow Spirit of Texas through next four-way stop. The cell phone waiting area is on the left.

Approximately two weeks after the cell phone waiting area opens, the under 30 minutes complimentary parking in the airport garage and Lot A will end, effective Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. Previously, vehicles staying under 30 minutes departing either Lot A or the garage exited without charge.

The cell phone waiting area will help create more open spaces for traveling passengers wanting to park in the garage and Lot A.

The airport’s garage and Lot A regularly fill to capacity, several days a week. Airport passenger traffic is up 6% resulting in more demand for parking. Space is needed to fill this demand.

Except for Valet Parking, all ABIA On-Airport Parking including the garage, Lot A, and economy lots, operate on an hourly rate of $3 per hour or part thereof, up to daily maximums. Full rates for all ABIA On-Airport Parking can be found at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/austinairport/parkrates.htm.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has nonstop service to 36 destinations in the U.S. Austin-Bergstrom served 8.7 million passengers in 2010. A complete listing of all nonstop flight destinations from Austin and the airlines that serve them is available on www.abia.org, click on airlines & flights.’ Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is among the top airports in North America, ranked third for customer service by the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Service Quality Survey.

Source: City of Austin