AUSTIN, Texas — Summer travel continues to be on the rise, with Austin-Bergstrom International Airport breaking yet another record with the busiest month ever at the airport in May.

Travel in May 2022 was up more than 86% over the previous year, with more than 2 million passengers coming and going through the Austin airport.

The airport has seen an increase in passenger traffic since the beginning of the year, recording more than 8 million travelers between January and May of this year. This number is up 132% from this time period last year.

Just as it did in April, Southwest Airlines continues to carry the most passenger traffic through ABIA, with 787,698 travelers, followed by American Airlines with more than 500,000 travelers and Delta Airlines with more than 234,000.

Austin-Bergstrom recommends the following:

• Arrive 2.5 hours ahead of your scheduled domestic departure time
• If you’re flying internationally, make it three hours
• Brush up on the TSA’s rules for packing carry-on items.
• Passengers can use the upper and lower levels to be dropped off for departures.

Meanwhile, ABIA on Thursday received $15 million from the new bipartisan infrastructure law to help expand the airport, according to U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin.

The funds will go toward increasing the size of the Barbara Jordan Terminal in hopes of catching up to the growing traveler demand in and out of the airport. This expansion will include new aircraft gates, more passenger waiting spaces and boarding bridges and enhanced TSA security checkpoints.

“The infrastructure law we successfully approved over opposition from every other Central Texas member is now also successfully marshalling funds right here to Austin to begin making our much-needed airport expansion plans a reality,” Rep. Doggett said.  “In order for Austin to be the international city—the hub of education, culture, and technology—that I know we are, our institutions and our infrastructure must be properly equipped to support world-class endeavors and worldwide visitors.”

The $15 million is an add-on to the more than $17 million from the infrastructure law that was provided to the Austin airport late last year.

“While our most immediate need has been for more Transportation Service Administration (TSA) resources to prevent more long lines and baggage issues,” Doggett continued, “these infrastructure funds will help in expanding our airport to meet the demands of both our growing population and our growing role as an international gateway city.”