Summary:
- Delta Air Lines has opened its first Sky Club at Austin's Bergstrom International airport;
- The 9,000 sq ft facility is located on the mezzanine level of the expanded Barbara Jordan Terminal at the Texas airport;
- Austin may not be a focus city for Delta operationally, but it is a key part of its network - it offers up to 28 daily departures with service to all of its US hubs.
The 9,000 square foot Sky Club is located on the mezzanine level of the Barbara Jordan Terminal at Bergstrom International, close to Delta's departure gates, and is already gaining positive reviews from users for its facilities and design and covered Sky Deck, an outdoor patio area.
The Sky Club has an eclectic interior style, which Delta's says is "inspired by Austin" and includes select artwork from well-known and up-and-coming artists with connections to Texas. It has a range of seating options for passengers happy to socialise with fellow travellers or those that wish to sit quietly in private. All have access to high-speed Wi-Fi and there are power outlets at most seats.
As you would expect, there is a full-service bar that includes seasonal cocktails and wine, alongside an extensive selection of tequila and mezcal that can be sampled in individual pours or tasting flights on a premium bar menu. There is a Texas feel to the beer options, with the drink options complemented by a rotating, seasonal food offering inspired by the region, like handcrafted tacos and barbecue dishes.
Austin may not be a focus city for Delta operationally, but it is a key part of its network. The airline offers up to 28 daily departures from the city with nonstop service to all of its US hubs, including three daily flights to both Los Angeles and New York City, which offer connecting customers onward links to its wider global network. It also provides links into Austin from Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis St Paul, Raleigh-Durham, Seattle and Salt Lake City.
According to CAPA - Centre for Aviation analysis of current OAG schedules, Delta is the fourth largest operator at Bergstrom International with a 12.3% share of the current system capacity. It holds a similar position to the other US majors in terms of capacity penetration in the Austin market, where Southwest Airlines dominates with more than one in three seats.
CHART - Delta Air Lines is currently the fourth largest user of Austin's Bergstrom International airport, but has a comparable share of capacity to the other US majors
Source: CAPA - Centre for Aviation and OAG (data: w/c 20-May-2019)
In an investment in its premium passengers, Delta has a long-term plan to expand its Delta Sky Club experience across its network. Over recent years it opened a new Sky Club at Sky Harbor International airport in Phoenix, refreshed its Sky Club at Ronald Reagan National airport in Washington, and introduced Sky Clubs at Hartsfield-Jackson International airport in Atlanta Tacoma International airport in Seattle.
After Austin, later this year it will debut a new Club at Louis Armstrong International airport in New Orleans. Salt Lake International airport will also see a new, nearly 28,000-square-foot Sky Club in 2020 and Los Angeles International airport will see a new Club in 2021 - both of which will feature a Sky Deck with airport views.
Several upgrades are also planed at existing Sky Clubs, including more, comfortable seating and a completely redesigned food and bar experience at the facility at John F Kennedy International airport's Terminal 4 in New York.