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Power Outages Disrupted Flights at ABIA

A mid-evening power failure in the Barbara Jordan Terminal delayed arrivals and departures.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Air Travel

Bold vector editorial illustration of a darkened, modern airport interior with empty kiosks and sharp geometric shadows.
A temporary power failure at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport's Barbara Jordan Terminal caused widespread flight delays and disrupted passenger services on Tuesday evening. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Travelers at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport faced schedule disruptions after a power outage impacted the Barbara Jordan Terminal. Austin Energy and airport crews worked throughout the evening to restore operations.

Why it matters

The outage affected essential airport systems, including airline ticket counters, forcing schedule adjustments for arriving and departing passengers. Normal operations have since resumed.

The power failure began at 5:15 p.m. and lasted until full restoration at 8 p.m., with most services returning by 6:40 p.m. The specific cause of the outage remains under investigation.

The players

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

The primary airport serving the Austin metropolitan area.

Austin Energy

The city-owned utility responsible for providing power to the community.

The details

Power outages struck the Barbara Jordan Terminal, taking airline ticket counters and other terminal systems offline. Austin Energy and airport personnel collaborated to repair the systems, with the majority of services returning to functionality within ninety minutes. Operations are now fully restored, and the airport has returned to its standard flight schedule.

Timeline

  1. October 13, 2026, 5:15 p.m.: Power outages were first reported.

  2. October 13, 2026, 6:40 p.m.: Most affected systems returned to service.

  3. October 13, 2026, 8:00 p.m.: Power was fully restored at the airport.

The Texas Context

This localized outage follows years of regional focus on the stability of the Texas electrical grid following the 2021 winter storms. It marks a departure from the city-wide scale of past failures by remaining isolated to the terminal environment.

Passengers who experienced flight delays should check with their specific airline for the most current rebooking information. The airport is currently fully operational, and no further service disruptions are reported.

The takeaway

Travelers should verify their flight status with their airline before heading to the airport after any major utility disruption. Keep an eye on local morning news reports for potential follow-up coverage regarding this event.

Further reading

For more updates on local travel conditions, visit our Air Travel section.

Live Poll

Do you trust your local airport to handle unexpected power or infrastructure failures?