On December 12, Austin got some of the best economic news it’s heard in years. Southwest Airlines announced it’s opening a brand-new crew base for pilots and flight attendants at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, bringing 2,000 high-paying jobs to the city starting in March 2026.
This isn’t just another business expansion. This is Austin becoming a major Southwest Airlines hub—and it’s going to ripple across the entire economy.
What’s Actually Happening
Southwest is relocating its Command Center to Austin. It’s building a brand-new crew base specifically for pilots and flight attendants. The operation opens in March 2026 with roughly 335 pilots and 650 flight attendants. By mid-2027, that grows to 2,000 total employees.
These aren’t minimum-wage jobs. The average salary for these positions is $180,000. That’s real money. That’s the kind of job that lets you buy a house in Austin, support a family, and actually afford to live here.
Plus, Southwest is investing more than $8.4 million in airport improvements. They’re adding new routes to 53 total nonstop destinations from Austin, including Fort Myers, Palm Springs, Steamboat Springs, and Cincinnati.
Here’s the Money Talk
Austin City Council approved a $5.5 million incentive package over five years. The state is contributing $14 million from the Texas Enterprise Fund. That’s $19.5 million in public investment to make this deal work.
But look at what Austin gets in return: the city will benefit with nearly $12 million in new tax revenue, and projects an additional 5,100 indirect new jobs could be created across related industries, generating more than $800 million in local gross domestic product.
The math is simple: invest $5.5 million, get back $12 million in taxes plus 5,100 indirect jobs. That’s a winning deal for Austin.
Why Southwest Picked Austin
Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said it straight: “This is all about being where the business is. And that business is in Austin, and that business is in Texas.”
Austin has exploded. The city is booming. People are moving here. Businesses are relocating here. Southwest looked at multiple cities for this expansion and chose Austin because Austin is where the growth is happening.
Mayor Kirk Watson understood what that means: More Southwest Airlines staffing, more gate activity, more air traffic availability, more reliability, more options for those that fly in and out of Austin, more jobs for Austinites, more child care, more training and more internships.
The Bigger Airport Picture
Austin-Bergstrom has been struggling. The airport is crowded. Security lines are long. Terminals are packed. But the city is already expanding it as part of a $4 billion expansion, which will add as many as 40 new gates to the airport over time, more than doubling its current number of 34 gates.
Southwest becomes the “anchor tenant” for the new Concourse B when it opens in the early 2030s. Southwest currently operates roughly 130 daily departures from the airport, a number that could balloon to “well over” 200 per day once the expansion is completed.
That’s transformational. More flights mean more connections. More connections mean better options for everyone who flies out of Austin.
The Community Benefits
This deal isn’t just about jobs. The incentive agreement requires Southwest to invest in Austin communities.
The agreement includes required workforce and community benefits, including partnerships that support K-12 aviation career awareness, collaboration with programs offering career exploration and job fairs, participation in skills-based training or apprenticeship pathways, and the provision of paid internship opportunities for high school students.
Southwest is also required to return 10% of its award to a Childcare Assistance Reserve Fund—money specifically designated to help Southwest employees and other Austin families afford child care.
The Impact for Average Austinites
If you live in Austin, this is huge. More airline employees means more housing demand, more restaurant customers, more retail spending. That creates jobs in construction, hospitality, food service, healthcare. That’s 5,100 additional indirect jobs across the city.
More flights mean you can fly where you want when you want. Your options increase. Your prices might even decrease with more competition. Your commute to the airport might improve with all the infrastructure upgrades.
For people looking for work, this opens 2,000 good-paying positions. For businesses in Austin, this means stronger demand and more customers.
Why This Matters Beyond Austin
Texas is competing with California, Florida, and other states for business investment. When Southwest picks Austin for a major expansion, it sends a signal: Texas is open for business. Texas has the workforce. Texas has the infrastructure. Texas has the growth.
Governor Greg Abbott made that point clear: Southwest Airlines was born and raised in Texas and has been a core element of the economic growth we have seen in our state, and we are excited to announce that today Southwest Airlines will add over 2,000 high paying jobs right here in Texas.
The Bottom Line
Southwest is bringing 2,000 jobs paying an average of $180,000 to Austin starting in March 2026. The city is investing $5.5 million and getting back $12 million in taxes plus 5,100 indirect jobs. The airport is expanding with 40 new gates. Austin is becoming a Southwest hub.
This is what economic development actually looks like when it works. The pieces fit together. Public and private leadership align. Jobs get created. The city improves. The airport expands.
Austin just won. And Austin’s growth is just getting started.
Timeline:
- March 2026 – Crew base opens with ~335 pilots and 650 flight attendants
- Mid-2027 – Crew base reaches full size of 2,000 employees
- Early 2030s – New airport concourse (Concourse B) opens with 40+ new gates
The Deal:
- City investment: $5.5 million over 5 years
- State investment: $14 million from Texas Enterprise Fund
- Job creation: 2,000 direct jobs (avg. $180,000) + 5,100 indirect jobs
- Tax revenue to city: ~$12 million
- New destinations: 53 nonstop from Austin
