The New Braunfels National Airport (BAZ) is a City of New Braunfels facility that can sometimes be overlooked but contributes greatly to the economy of our community and the region. The airport has a rich history dating back to its origins as a military facility. Originally opened as Clear Springs Auxiliary Field #5, the airport served as a B-25 training base during World War II. After the war, the site became surplus in 1944 but was later reactivated during the Cold War as Clear Springs Air Force Base. In 1956, it was transferred to the Army and later assigned to Randolph Air Force Base from 1964 until its closure in 1967. The City of New Braunfels acquired the airport in 1969, and it was then known as the New Braunfels Municipal Airport. Since that time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has upgraded its status from a Municipal airport to Regional (2012) and, most recently, to a National designation in 2021. Today, BAZ is a public-use, general aviation facility that serves the region’s air transportation needs and contributes to the local and regional economies.
The City of New Braunfels owns and operates the more than 1,200 acres that make up BAZ. With two runways, an air traffic control tower, and various aircraft supportive facilities, a full-time staff of 12 airport personnel are responsible for operating and maintaining the airport’s infrastructure and systems, as well as managing the fixed based operation (FBO). FBO’s provide services like fueling, hangaring, tie-down, parking, and other similar services. Our airport staff keeps these services available 7 days a week, year-round for the broader general aviation community.
General aviation significantly impacts local and regional economies by supporting jobs and the companies that supply those jobs. In addition to serving the need to connect our community to the rest of the country through the airspace system, the airport has become an integral part of the local community and economy. Operations and activities found at the airport include business aviation, law enforcement, military, medical care, emergency services, agricultural, scientific, and humanitarian missions. Every year, air visitors to New Braunfels arrive using general aviation. These visitors spend money on rental cars, hotels, and restaurants during their trips and that spending can be attributed to their use of the New Braunfels National Airport. A 2018 study by the Texas Department of Transportation found that the airport in New Braunfels supported more than 240 jobs with an annual economic impact of $27 million. Since 2018, these numbers have undoubtedly grown as the airport has seen significant private sector investment with the construction of new hangars and facilities that house additional businesses and aircraft.
The Airport continues to exhibit growth with a 7% increase in operations in 2023 over 2022 and a combined 31% increase since 2018. To accommodate the ongoing growth at BAZ, there are several capital projects underway. The Airport is undergoing a site study and preliminary design for a new Air Traffic Control Tower. The fifty-year-old pavement and parking areas are being reconstructed. This year, we will see the installation of new security enhancements including gates and fencing. The private sector is taking note of the growth and BAZ continues to see that sector invest in facilities at the airport. Two corporate hangars are under construction with a third to break ground soon. In addition to air charter and business aviation operations, New Braunfels National Airport is home to three flight schools, an avionics repair station, and four aircraft maintenance operations. BAZ even contributes to our nation’s general defense through agreements with the United States to support the military’s aviation training needs.
Overall, the New Braunfels National Airport is an essential part of the local, regional, and national infrastructure and a major economic driver, providing vital services and supporting numerous jobs across various sectors. Only 115 airports of 3,000 nationwide have been classified as a national airport. The most recent reclassification reflects our airport’s growing importance to the national airspace and air traffic system. Our airport's journey from a military base to a thriving public use airport underscores its significant role in the region's aviation history and its ongoing contribution to the community and the broader aviation industry.
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Mayor Neal Linnartz