It’s no secret that Delta Air Lines has been significantly growing its presence in the Texas capital. The Atlanta based carrier released a video today about what is coming next for Delta’s growth at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).
David Hart, Delta’s Managing Director of Domestic Network Planning, sat down with Delta Flight Attendant Joe, to discuss the carrier’s growth in Austin. To kick things off, Joe asks David the reason behind Delta’s expanded presence in the Texas capital which he attributes to three things: the growth of the population in Austin, the presence of the University of Texas, and the numerous companies that have headquartered themselves in the region.
In the video, the competitive nature of the Austin market is acknowledged. Southwest Airlines has long been the dominant carrier at AUS though American Airlines, and now Delta, have made great efforts to capture more market share.
Hart acknowledges the competitive nature of the Austin market while proudly stating that Delta is now the #2 carrier at the airport. He emphasizes that Delta is attempting to differentiate itself by running a smooth operation with minimal disruptions and provided an elevated level of service onboard.
The interview also acknowledges all of the new nonstop routes that have been added to the Delta network from Austin in recent years. Flights have been added to cities like Indianapolis, San Francisco, Memphis, New Orleans, Tampa, and Panama City from Austin along with the carrier’s first international flight from its Texas focus city to Cancun.
The interview concludes with the question, “what’s next for Delta in Austin.” Hart answers that Delta will continue to grow in Austin and add more routes. While no specifics are provided, it sounds like the carrier is making a big play to become the dominant carrier in the market, dethroning Southwest. This is especially true considering the major changes we’ve seen occurring at Southwest.
While the interview was mostly fluff, it did showcase Delta’s commitment to the Central Texas market and indicated that the Atlanta based carrier isn’t done adding new routes. As a longtime Delta customer and Austin resident, I’m excited to see Delta’s continued expansion at my home airport.
Summary
While details are scarce, David Hart, Delta’s Managing Director of Domestic Network Planning, has indicated the airline’s willingness to continue growing in Central Texas. Delta continues to unveil new routes and, with its continuous growth in Texas, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Austin elevated to a hub once the new midfield concourse opens.