AUSTIN, Texas – The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) experienced a surge of travelers following the total solar eclipse that passed over the city on Monday. The airport reported record-breaking numbers on both Tuesday and Thursday after the celestial event.
On Tuesday, April 9, AUS welcomed 37,147 travelers, marking it as the eighth busiest day in the airport’s history. Two days later, on Thursday, April 11, the airport saw a significant increase with 39,967 travelers passing through, setting a new record as the third busiest day for the airport.
Initially, airport officials had anticipated breaking the record for just one of the busiest days. However, travelers continued to flock to the airport, leading to higher-than-expected numbers throughout the week following the solar eclipse.
Throughout the week leading up to, during, and after the eclipse, AUS provided a breakdown of traveler numbers:
– Friday, April 5 – 28,112 travelers
– Saturday, April 6 – 21,093 travelers
– Sunday, April 7 – 28,010 travelers
– Monday, April 8 – 32,573 travelers
– Tuesday, April 9 – 37,147 travelers (a record)
– Wednesday, April 10 – 36,380 travelers
– Thursday, April 11 – 39,967 travelers (a record)
The previous busiest day on record for the airport was on October 23, 2023, when more than 43,000 passengers were reported. The influx of travelers following the solar eclipse highlights the impact of major events on airport traffic and the importance of efficient travel infrastructure to accommodate such surges.