A report produced by the Austin City auditor’s office showed the main areas of concern for the operation of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
AUS). One of the main issues identified by the report is the lack of skilled workers at the airport.
Lack of skilled workers
The report identified that the vacancy rate for the airport’s aviation department doubled from 17.5% to 36.4% between 2020 and 2023. It currently stands at roughly 20%.
Photo: lorenzatx | Shutterstock
During the pandemic, many experienced and senior-level workers retired or left the department, leaving it poorly equipped to handle the current demand. In addition, the airport has faced difficulties recruiting and retaining staff at all levels.
Multiple safety issues throughout last year resulted from inexperienced staff. The lapses include two worker fatalities and a near miss between two planes, which drew both local and federal scrutiny over staffing and safety at AUS.
Authorities at AUS had this to say regarding the report and its findings:
“Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is grateful to the dedicated audit team for working with us on this assessment. Airports are complex environments, and, like all major airports, we continuously implement plans and protocols to mitigate risks, enhance resiliency, and strengthen our operations to meet the evolving needs of our community and travelers.
“We look forward to future collaboration with the audit team to further mitigate risks and fortify our operations as we navigate the rapid growth and dynamic changes within the aviation industry.”
The airport can’t seem to hire experienced staff due to how long the hiring process takes and because the pay isn’t competitive. In addition, many senior staff members are nearing or past retirement age and must be replaced soon.
The airport also lacks sufficient workspace for training, meetings and storage, which means that hired staff are not adequately trained, which can result in safety issues down the line.
Simple Flying has contacted AUS for a statement.
More issues
A side effect of lacking experienced staff is the lack of oversight in the airport’s operations. Much of the airport’s current construction programs and contracts are handled by other contractors. The lack of oversight means that these multi-million dollar expansion projects are not being monitored and tracked effectively. It could result in cost overruns, delays, poor construction, and reduced customer satisfaction.
Another issue is with the maintenance and management of existing facilities. AUS’ growth has resulted in the airport’s operations exceeding its infrastructure capacity. Overusing the airport’s facilities can lead to long-term problems, such as unplanned costs due to repairs and unsafe conditions for passengers and workers.
Photo: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
The report identified that the airport does have a clear strategy for maintaining its assets. It also identified a lack of review and oversight, including an outdated work order system.
According to airport staff, some assets need repairs due to delayed preventative maintenance. Other assets are kept in working order through temporary fixes when they should be replaced. Furthermore, some repairs are being rushed to meet deadlines and may not be up to standards.
There doesn’t seem to be a short-term solution to the issues highlighted by the report. Except to expedite the hiring of experienced workers by providing competitive salaries and benefits.
Related
Austin–Bergstrom International Airport Handled Over 2 Million Passengers In July
The numbers are slightly down from last year.