7x daily A380 service to Seoul, called it! Joking aside, here are my thoughts about what 2018 has in store for AUS. Judging by Austin1971's comments, I agree with you, Jdawgboy, in that 2018 have a heck of a lot more news than 2017 did, and 2017 was fantastic. My guesses for what happens in 2018 are as follows, feel free to agree or disagree.
1. Delta airlines up gauges aircraft on existing routes as well as adding a few new routes, I’m thinking MCO and PDX. BOS is being up gauged from a A319 to A320 and then up to a 738. SEA has already been up gauged to a 738 as well. These can be found by searching for flights at:
https://www.delta.com/
2. Delta airlines builds a hangar for line maintenance as stated previously by an a.netter at AUS, the post can be found
here. Delta will have plenty of land and will likely receive a nice compensation from ABIA. There is a sizable gap in the Texas region between Delta maintenance stations.
3. The 9 gate expansion opens up early, late 2018. Originally set to open 2019 per
ABIA , would be big news indeed if it opened this year. Once this opens, I feel a rush of news would follow.
4. If the extension does open this year, we could likely see the rumored Amex Connect flights to GDL and MTY, along with mainline to MEX.
5. The AMS flight comes to fruit, starting late 2018, praying that it will be operated by KLM and not Delta (
who can resist the KLM livery). Service will be 3x weekly on an
A332 aircraft seating 243
6. This is far fetched but I can dream, Korean Air 3x weekly to ICN, operated by an
A332 seating 218
7. Air Canada begins daily YVR flights to AUS operated by a
E175 seating 76. Judging by 2016 pax numbers from AUS to YVR found
here, Air Canada will eventually connect YVR to AUS, hopefully happening 2018.
8. Norwegian promptly expand at AUS, I'm hoping that the LGW flight does well and Norwegian will expand to their other bases in Europe like BCN and CDG, operated 3x weekly by 788 aircraft.
9. Icelandair and/or WOW come to AUS, one or both of these carriers announce seasonal summer service to AUS operated 4x weekly by a
752 on Icelandair and a
A321neo by WOW
10. ViaAir bases most of their aircraft at AUS, opens a matienance hangar to serve them, and adds many new routes. This could very well happen this year, ViaAir has stated that
they want to be known as Austin's hometown airline and planes to base crews and maintenance at AUS.
These are my thoughts about what could happen in 2018, I know these ideas are far fetched and few will actually happen, but I find it nice to speculate about what is coming up as AUS continues to grow at a feverish pace.