Metropolis officers opened a brand new airport facility on Friday that expands Terminal A by three gates. Beginning subsequent week, flights will start departing from gates A1A, A1B and A1C within the $55 million floor loading facility on the San Antonio Worldwide Airport (SAT).
The enlargement is the primary main undertaking completion within the long-term strategic plan designed to enhance the San Antonio airport, and the primary vital new undertaking on the airport since a parking storage opened in 2017.
The undertaking was years within the making, stated Director of Airports Jesus Saenz.
“That is all about elevate SAT,” Saenz stated, utilizing the airport’s marketing campaign theme for the work that’s being finished. “You’re going to see increasingly more. That is the most important capital growth that we’re endeavor presently on this metropolis.”
What’s a floor load facility?
Accessible from the east finish of Terminal A, the power is like these generally used at smaller airports comparable to Burbank and Lengthy Seashore in California but additionally discovered at bigger hubs just like the Denver Worldwide Airport.
The amenities are most well-liked by low-cost and ultra-low-cost carriers flying slender physique and regional jets to effectively transfer passengers on and off plane. The system reduces their price, and ostensibly, airfares.
In a floor load facility, passengers wait for his or her flight within the terminal as they usually would, however then board or exit a aircraft from the tarmac, just like how air journey regarded earlier than jetways got here into widespread use. A system of switchback ramps lead from the bottom to the back and front of the aircraft.
Seen to drivers upon method to the arrivals and departures lanes, the power is a two-story construction that connects to Terminal A.
Inside, the spacious terminal offers seating for 211, a retail concession stocked with native souvenirs and grab-and-go meals and drinks and a Chef Johnny’s Mercado restaurant. A wall of home windows and an outside terrace overlook the runway.
Its tilt design and industrial look, with uncovered ductwork and easy format, is intentional, stated Deputy Aviation Director Tim O’Krongley.
“One [reason] was for pace,” he stated. “Past that, we designed it to be very versatile,” so that every one furnishings and partitions could be simply moved to accommodate future enlargement.
O’Krongley pointed to a frosted panel wall separating the terminal from the Federal Inspection Station (Customs) that may be eliminated when that perform ultimately strikes to Terminal C.
The terminal may very well be simply tailored for vertical electrical self-piloted plane sooner or later, he stated. It can additionally function a backup when the transform work on Terminal A begins in 2028 after Terminal C is accomplished.
Why develop the terminal?
The terminal enlargement undertaking additionally included constructing a ramp for plane that park in a single day close to the power. The price of each the terminal and the $25 million ramp undertaking had been offset by Federal Aviation Administration grants totaling $35 million.
Metropolis Supervisor Erik Walsh stated the San Antonio airport has a $7.4 billion annual financial influence on town and Higher:SATX President and CEO Sarah Carabias Rush known as the airport enlargement crucial to town’s progress.
“That is tremendously vital for the expansion of San Antonio and our capacity to compete in terms of company relocations and company growth alternatives,” she stated. “We’d like to have the ability to attain as many places as we probably can. By increasing our footprint right here, we’re on our solution to with the ability to carry extra direct flights in so it’s crucial actually.”
Officers stated they count on the Mexican ultra-low-cost provider Volaris transporting passengers to Guadalajara, Mexico, to be among the many first flights to depart from the terminal. Different flights and carriers usually are not but scheduled.
“That is step one of many enlargement of Terminal A,” Saenz stated. “We’re engaged on it and we’re going to proceed to do good issues, not just for the brand new terminal, however for Terminal B and Terminal A…. Every thing you see within the designs right here can be included into the Terminal A and Terminal B renovations.”
In 2024, as a part of the general strategic progress effort, aviation officers made plans to designate a new-and-improved Terminal A for Southwest Airways’ sole use.
However Southwest, which accounted for greater than one-third of the passengers who used the airport final 12 months, needed 10 gates within the new $1.4 billion terminal, and sued to make that occur.
In September, a choose dominated in opposition to Southwest, which stated it will attraction the choice.
Saenz wouldn’t focus on the lawsuit, however stated, “We now have a extremely good, robust relationship with them … we’ve received good plans for Southwest Airways, and we’re excited the place we’re going.”
What else is going on on the airport?
Over on the west facet of the airport, development continues on Terminal C, the place SAT will acquire 17 new gates plus lounge areas and checkpoints for worldwide vacationers. Designs for a brand new $125-million parking storage additionally had been lately permitted.
The trouble to construct a brand new terminal comes with work on the arrival and departure lanes close to Terminal B which have been partially closed. Vacationers are being suggested to make use of the short-term parking storage for drop-offs and pick-ups.
Wait occasions at SAT safety checkpoints stay beneath 14 minutes regardless of the lengthy strains reported at different main airports because the partial authorities shutdown.
That’s resulting from devoted Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) brokers, stated Jane Fisher, assistant federal safety director at TSA, and help from the neighborhood.
She stated on Friday CPS Power delivered a donation of diapers to the airport and guaranteed TSA brokers their utilities wouldn’t be disconnected for lack of fee.
SAT presently provides 50 nonstop locations, up from 33 in 2023 when the journey business was nonetheless recovering from the fallout of the pandemic. In 2025, simply over 10.7 million complete passengers traveled by means of the airport, a lower of three.2% in comparison with 2024.
On the opening of the expanded terminal, aviation officers stated they’re trying ahead to the return of Air Canada’s service to Toronto which begins Might 1. The flight will function thrice every week by means of October.
