End of Cold War Begets Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport was built on the property where the previous Bergstrom Air Force Base used to be located. The base was permanently shut down in 1991 by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission when the Cold War tapered off and the US military initiated defense cuts, and eventually the airport was built on the site. Austin- Bergstrom International Airport is actually a relatively young mixed-use commercial airport that started passenger service operations only in 1999.