A new global airport travel study has revealed passenger traffic at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) sharply decreased from 2024 to 2025.

The analysis from travel magazine LocalsInsider examined recently released data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), the U.S. International Trade Association, and a nationwide survey to determine the following American traveler habits: The most popular U.S. and international destinations, emerging hotspots, and destinations on the decline. The study covered passenger travel trends from January through July 2025.

In the report's ranking of the 40 U.S. airports with the sharpest declines in passenger traffic, AUS ranked 22nd on the list.

Nearly 6.11 million arrivals were reported at AUS from January through July 2024, compared to about 5.83 million during the same seven-month period in 2025. According to the data, that's a 4.6 percent drop in passenger traffic year-over-year, or a loss of 279,201 passengers.

"As travelers chase new hotspots, some destinations are seeing reduced passenger traffic whether due to rising costs, shifting airline schedules, or evolving traveler preferences, some destinations are seeing a decrease in visitors," the report's author wrote.

It is currently unclear whether AUS passenger traffic may soon see improvements as federal agencies reopen. AUS was luckily not included on the Federal Aviation Administration's list of 40 "high volume" airports that would experience capacity cuts and flight cancellations due to the government shutdown. However, USAToday warns that flight disruptions may continue as the FAA evaluates whether services can return to normal.

The end of the shutdown presumably won't help that some planned flights to Mexico, including a Viva Aerobus route from AUS to Mexico City, have been canceled because of a U.S. Department of Transportation order. The Viva route was the only one canceled in Austin.

Passenger traffic declines elsewhere in Texas
It appears most major Texas airports had drops in passenger traffic from 2024 to 2025. Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) was the worst offender in the state with a dramatic 7.4 percent dip in arrivals. DAL also ranked 11th on the nationwide version of the list.

More than 5.13 million arrivals were reported at DAL from January through July 2024, compared to over 4.75 million during the same seven-month period in 2025.

This is how passenger traffic has fallen at other major Texas airports from 2024 to 2025:

Houston William P. Hobby Airport (HOU):

• 4,263,472 – Passenger arrivals from January to July 2024
• 3,962,498 – Passenger arrivals from January to July 2025
• -7.1 percent – Year-over-year passenger change

• 23,830,017 – Passenger arrivals from January to July 2024
• 23,251,302 – Passenger arrivals from January to July 2025
• -2.4 percent – Year-over-year passenger change

• 1,094,431 – Passenger arrivals from January to July 2024
• 1,076,845 – Passenger arrivals from January to July 2025
• -1.6 percent – Year-over-year passenger change