The skies are looking a bit brighter for San Antonio International Airport as the Federal Aviation Administration doles out a hefty $30 million grant package for major upgrades and a new terminal. According to a report by the San Antonio Report, the announcement came through yesterday, earmarking $18 million for a brand-new terminal projected to welcome travelers by 2028, and an additional $12 million for essential electrical upgrades in the current Terminal A.
The San Antonio International Airport is gearing up for a large-scale facelift, part of a 20-year, $2.5 billion airport redevelopment plan, aiming to enhance the city's economic growth and connectivity. With the federal funds arriving from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s airport terminal program, the airport directors intend to put these new resources into facilitating smoother travels. "The terminal expansion isn’t just about upgrading infrastructure; it’s about fueling our city’s economic engine and bolstering our connectivity," City Manager Erik Walsh said in a statement obtained by the San Antonio Report.
Last year was a record-breaker for the San Antonio airport, pulling in 10.7 million passengers, and these upgrades aim to match the city's growing demand. "We had our busiest year ever in 2023 with 10.7 million passengers,” Jesus Saenz, the Director of Airports for the San Antonio Airport System told KSAT. "We can’t wait for the Ground Load Facility to be ready and we’re just four years out from having our new terminal."
In an aerial showing of confidence for the airport's trajectory, the FAA also contributed last month to San Antonio's aviation infrastructure with a $12 million grant for upgrades at Terminal A, as KSAT reports. This series of funds will also support a terminal connector, which allows passengers to travel between terminals without re-screening, and prep work on environmental reviews and partial terminal design.
These federal nods to the San Antonio International Airport don't stop at passenger experience, as Port San Antonio also rejoices at the tailwinds of a $3 million grant for a new terminal building at Kelly Field Airport—a significant stride towards creating a global tech and innovation hub. “This award is an important reaffirmation of our work and another key step as we continue moving forward,” Jim Perschbach, president and CEO of Port San Antonio, proclaimed in a statement released by the San Antonio Report.
