Big bucks are being pumped into the San Antonio International Airport for a major facelift that promises to boost the city's connectivity and economic prospects. According to Express News, the Federal Aviation Administration is doling out an $18 million grant towards a sprawling new terminal estimated at a whopping $1.4 billion, expected to open its doors in 2028.
The expansion doesn't just stop at the new terminal, it includes a hefty $12 million to keep the aging Terminal A operational, which will be partially demolished after the new behemoth structure is functional. The new facility is set to outsize the current Terminals A and B — by more than 200,000 square feet and will house a 17-gate concourse, customs inspections area, parking spaces for airplanes, and a multistory transportation hub for various ground services.
"As we grow and expand our operations, these grants allow us to continue to modernize our airport and improve traveler experience," Airport Director Jesus Saenz said in a statement obtained by Express News. Yet, the San Antonio airport doesn't just aim to be bigger but also more conveniently connected. A primary concern, highlighted in an interview with KSAT is the city's lack of direct transatlantic flights, something officials are eager to change.
The list of desired direct routes includes international destinations like London and Frankfurt, and domestic targets like the tech-hub Bay Area and political center Washington, D.C., specifically aiming to skirt the restrictive Perimeter Rule for nonstop flights to Reagan National Airport. GreaterSATX, a regional economic development entity, is actively taking part in the charge to enhance the city's air travel map. "The airport is directly related to propelling our economic trajectory," CEO Jenna Saucedo-Herrera told KSAT.
But the real question haunting the skyline is whether building it will actually make those airlines come. Mayor Ron Nirenberg told KSAT, "It is a very delicate dance that we do with the airlines because, ultimately, it’s the airlines themselves that pay for these facilities through the fees that they pay when they take off and land from San Antonio International." Meanwhile, the imminent arrival of a ground-load facility signals a shift in operational tactics at SAT, slated for completion in 2025. This stands part of the airport's interim strategy as it braces for the forthcoming surge in traffic during construction.
