San Antonio International Airport just scored a fresh $10 million in federal cash to help build out Phase 6 of its new Terminal C, the marquee project in the city’s ongoing airport expansion. The planned terminal is a roughly 850,000-square-foot, 18-gate facility that will be larger than the airport’s two existing terminals combined and is scheduled to open in 2028. The money arrives as the federal Airport Terminal Program, launched under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, enters its final year of funding.
The FAA’s FY2026 Airport Terminal Program selections list shows a $10,000,000 award for “Phase 6” of Terminal C, according to the FAA. The document lays out the projects selected for FY26 terminal grants nationwide.
Assistant City Manager Jeff Coyle told City Council that “The $10 million in this round is the largest of any medium hub in the country,” as reported by the San Antonio Express-News. City officials said the airport had applied for $20 million in this last round and ultimately walked away with half that amount.
What the grant pays for
The FAA’s selections list identifies the award as funding for Phase 6, which covers construction and systems work that tie into the new concourse. The agency describes the project as part of the buildout of an 850,000-square-foot Terminal C adding 18 gates, according to the FAA.
In other words, this slice of funding helps knit together some of the behind-the-scenes systems and structure that will make the new concourse function, even if it is only a small line item in the larger build.
A cutthroat race for the last of IIJA terminal money
Industry group AAAE reported that the FAA received 588 applications requesting a combined $7.1 billion for FY26 Airport Terminal Program funds, while about $1 billion was actually available. In the end, the agency funded 133 projects at 129 airports.
AAAE noted that the terminal program carried a five-year allocation of roughly $5 billion and that the FY26 awards represent the final batch of grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s dedicated terminal pot. Put simply, this was the last big scramble for this particular stream of federal airport cash.
Local impact and next steps
San Antonio has been a frequent winner in the program, securing funding for 14 of the 15 projects it pitched and pulling in about $114.6 million under the law’s main airport grant programs, airport officials told the San Antonio Express-News. Airport Director Jesus Saenz said in a news release that “These investments strengthen our ability to meet growing demand while continuing to prioritize safety, efficiency and the passenger experience.”
The new $10 million award is a comparatively modest piece of Terminal C’s roughly $1.7 billion price tag, but local officials said federal money helps keep the massive project on schedule for its planned 2028 opening.
What to watch next
With the Airport Terminal Program’s five-year funding now fully spoken for, industry groups say it is up to Congress to decide whether to extend or replace the initiative. Without an extension, airports will have to lean more heavily on bonds, passenger facility charges, and local revenue, AAAE warned.
San Antonio airport leaders said they will keep pushing Terminal C through its scheduled phases and continue hunting for other grant opportunities to supplement local and traditional funding sources as needed.
