Overview
- Austin authorized up to $5.5 million in payments at $2,750 per Austin resident hired over five years, with 10% of each payment directed to a new Childcare Assistance Reserve Fund and all payouts contingent on verified performance with annual Council approval.
- Texas committed $14 million from the Texas Enterprise Fund, including a $375,000 bonus tied to veteran hiring.
- Southwest said the base will open in March 2026 with about 335 pilots and 650 flight attendants, growing to roughly 2,000 employees by mid-2027.
- The airline will establish a recurring flight attendant training facility in Austin, and local officials say the base will improve reliability and enable more nonstop routes.
- City documents cite an average salary around $180,000 for many unionized roles and project notable gains in local tax revenue.