✈️ KAUS Traffic Grows 6.9% Ahead of Fee Introduction, with Diverging Trends Across Three Airports
Austin Current reported on September 4, 2026, that Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (KAUS) plans to begin charging landing fees to non-commercial aircraft as early as October 1, 2026, while also increasing hangar rents and fuel flowage fees; an AOPA representative warned that the new charges could discourage small aircraft from flying to Austin. Avi-Go data show that, before the fees take effect, KAUS recorded 11,135 business aircraft movements from June 8 to September 7, 2026. When the 92-day period is divided equally into two 46-day windows, movements increased from 5,381 to 5,754, an increase of 373 movements, or 6.9%. During the same period, Austin Executive Airport (KEDC) increased from 1,549 to 1,840 movements, an increase of 291 movements, or 18.8%; Georgetown Municipal Airport (KGTU), by contrast, declined from 1,437 to 1,175 movements, a decrease of 262 movements, or 18.2%. The combined total for the three airports rose from 8,367 to 8,769 movements, an increase of 402 movements, or 4.8%, reflecting both an increase in aggregate regional traffic and diverging trends among the airports.
Impact: KAUS still recorded 6.9% growth between the two windows before the landing fee was implemented, meaning that the impact of the charges after October 1, 2026, will need to be assessed separately using actual traffic data collected after the new rules take effect. KEDC added 291 movements during the same period, but this change occurred before the KAUS fees took effect, so the increase should be viewed as part of existing market changes. For the three airports, post-fee traffic distribution, based-aircraft demand, and changes in support-service activity will become more direct competitive indicators.
Recommendation: Beginning October 1, 2026, KAUS and its business aviation service providers should track business aircraft movements, fuel sales, and hangar utilization on a weekly basis, using the two 46-day windows from June 8 to September 7 as the pre-fee baseline. KEDC and KGTU should simultaneously record data using the same methodology, focusing on whether KEDC’s increase of 291 movements continues and whether KGTU experiences further changes after declining by 262 movements between the two windows.