Rumor has it Elon Musk is planning to open its own private airport near Austin, Texas. Let's have a look at what the revolutionizing entrepreneur has in store.

A new airfield for Musk's multiple companies

Elon Musk is once again making himself heard, with reported plans to build a brand new private airport in Austin; more precisely, the airfield should be located near Bastrop.

The main reason why Musk is eyeing a new airport in this location is to enable private jet travel for himself and his executives. Indeed, the airfield would be located in a strategic position, given that many of Musk's companies, including Tesla HQ, SpaceX, and The Boring Company, are located within the catchment area of the potential new airport.

Possible new location of Musk airport
No precise location for Musk's airport has been shared; however, it is said it should be near Bastrop. Photo: Flightradar24.com

For sure, Musk and his companies own a vast area of land in the US's second-largest state. The widest area owned by the entrepreneur is in central Texas, along the Colorado River. Particularly, the key area for Musk would be Giga Texas in the southeast Travis County, which covers an area of 2,500 acres (10 square km). The relevance of this land is the fact that, in December 2021, Musk moved Tesla HQ from the Silicon Valley, CA, to this area of Texas. Moreover, The Boring Company HQ were also moved to Texas, three miles away from Austin Executive Airport, which serves general aviation as an alternative to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

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The specifics of Musk's airport

For the time being, there is no precise information about the specifics of Musk's airport. However, it can be assumed that the airfield will have similar characteristics to Austin Executive Airport. Austin Executive Airport is characterized by a 6,025-feet (1.8 km) runway, and covers an area of 130,000 square feet (12,077 sq.m.) of community hangar space.

Musk regularly flies to Austin Executive on a 2015-built Gulfstream G650; however, he has reportedly planned an upgrade to the G700, whose base price averages $78 million. The delivery of the plane is expected in early 2023. What might have led Musk to opt for this private jet is the fact that it is said to be offering the most spacious cabin in the private jet market, with 19 seats and two bathrooms. The plane has a flight range of 7,500 (13,890 km) nautical miles, enough to fly non-stop from Austin to Hong Kong. Many of us might wonder whether Musk's new private jet will be as famous as the current one, which has its own automated Twitter account, elonjet, tracking and reporting Musk's personal aircraft's movements.

Inside the Gulfstream G700 cabin.
Photo: Gulfstream

However, no precise timeline has been shared regarding the start of construction. Nonetheless, building an airport is everything but an easy move. Musk will have to apply and wait to receive approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as the confirmation that the airport masterplan aligns with the environmental standards set by the FAA. Moreover, no information is currently available with respect to the exact location of the new airport.

What do you think of Musk's plans to open a brand-new general aviation airport near Austin? Let us know what you think in the comment section.