International travelers arriving at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) may notice some changes next time they touch down. Most important is an expansion of the international arrivals and baggage claims areas.

The changes are a milestone for the airport's Journey With AUS expansion program, a broad program for further developing the airport — everything from updating the systems inside to building large new structures over the next several years. The City counts the international arrivals completion its first "significant" finished project.

A newsletter update from the City of Austin notes that the project was finished ahead of schedule.

The $13.8 million project added 20,600 square feet of additional space. Passenger queuing areas now offer passengers more space, an initiative the City says will increase passenger flow for shorter wait times and less crowding when the airport is especially busy.

The expanded space also includes new baggage carousels. Two of them can be used for both international and domestic flights, which is said to improve flexibility on an operational level. One is just for international arrivals and oversized luggage.

Finally, the project also included updates to processing facilities for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The release does not expand upon this facet of the work, but it is included in a blanket explanation regarding the flexibility of the airport and its ability to handle multiple international arrivals at once.

“This project is a defining example of how we’re shaping the future of air travel in Austin,” said ABIA CEO Ghizlane Badawi in the newsletter. “The enhancements to our international arrivals experience significantly improve efficiency and comfort for passengers today while laying the foundation for a more globally connected and passenger-focused airport of tomorrow. It’s just the beginning of what the Journey With AUS expansion program will deliver for our community, our passengers, our partners, and our stakeholders.”

The newsletter and the Journey With AUS program forecast more changes coming to international travel and baggage claim in the Arrivals and Departures Hall project, which is still underway.

The overall program is expected to take place over the next five years. City documentation notes multiple projects simultaneously in the works already: expanding TSA Checkpoint 3, additions to the outbound luggage handling system, and replacing 12 current gate boarding bridges while adding three new ones to offset gate closures as the projects progress.

An overall visual of the work planned.austintexas.gov/AUSJourney

That's not all that's in store. More short-term projects are described, as well as long-term projects such as adding a new Arrivals and Departures (A/D) Hall, a new 7,000-space parking garage, and a new concourse with a connecting tunnel to the existing facilities.