Overview
- The new pilot and flight attendant base at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will open in March 2026, starting with about 335 pilots and 650 flight attendants before scaling to 2,000 employees by mid-2027.
- Positions will include pilots, flight attendants, and base leadership and support roles, with an average annual salary of about $180,000.
- Texas approved a $14 million Texas Enterprise Fund award and a $375,000 Veteran Created Job Bonus to support the expansion.
- Austin authorized up to $5.5 million in incentives, including $2,750 per new local hire over five years with 10% directed to the city’s child care assistance program.
- Southwest plans a recurring training facility for flight attendants in Austin, and officials project nearly $20 million in local tax revenue with about 5,100 additional indirect jobs.