Home to the Alamo, the most visited tourist attraction in Texas, San Antonio welcomes over 40 million visitors every year. It should come as no surprise that San Antonio’s International Airport has been setting records. More than 10 million passengers — an average of 27,000 per day — fly in and out of the San Antonio International Airport (SAT) each year. The airport has broken monthly passenger records every consecutive month since May of last year with December 2023 surpassing 900,000 for the first time.
This massive growth benefits the city as the airport contributes approximately $5 billion annually to the business travel and tourism-driven economy. However, the airport was not designed for so many passengers. In recent years, SAT has been reaching capacity. In 2022, the airport completed two projects that included additional gates to sustain the airport until the new terminal was completed.
SAT has previously been ranked highly among other airports in its class. Last year the Wall Street Journal ranked SAT in the No.2 spot on its list of best midsize airports in the country for 2023. Due to the influx of new passengers, overall customer satisfaction ratings have plummeted. J.D. Power’s 2024 North American Airport Satisfaction Study placed San Antonio at 18 out of 24 in the large airport category with an overall customer satisfaction rating of 614 out of 1000. The average score for the category was 629. Within a year, the airport has gone from top of its class, to far below average.
Dutifully, SAT has drawn up big plans to get back in the good graces of the public eye. After initially being approved by the City Council in November of 2021, the $2.5 billion Strategic Development Plan was composed to prepare for projected future travel demands. The initial developments undertaken between 2022 and 2026 include three new gates, new terminal concessions, upgrades to baggage systems and an air cargo expansion.
In 2023, the airport commenced working on its project to develop a new terminal. On top of completing the additional terminal, renovations for the existing Terminal A are also in the works. According to the plan, upgrades and improvements to the airfield and surrounding roadways are designed to better accommodate the growth the airport forecasts. With a completion date planned for the second quarter of 2028, the new Terminal C will have 17 gates and be 30% larger than both Terminals A and B. Apart from the abundance of new additions including a new and modern Federal Inspection Station for expanded International air service, the airport will offer new quality-of-life features for travelers. Amenities for the new ground facility will encompass over 37,000 square feet. There will be lactation rooms, dedicated charging stations for electronics, workstations and high tabletop stations among other food and retail options.
Finally, to embrace the rich heritage and culture of the city, the airport will incorporate an indoor courtyard and a riparian paseo entry to enhance a sense of place and emulate the feel of the River Walk.
Though frustrating at the moment, this expanded capacity for the airport will be worth it once completed. Manny Pelaez, Councilman for District 8 in San Antonio, writes that according to the city’s aviation department, just one new flight to Central or South America could result in an economic impact of over $36 million per year.
“San Antonio’s economic resiliency depends on an airport that can support tourists, business travelers and cargo planes.” Pelaez said. He also emphasized how uniquely positioned San Antonio is to take advantage of the important economic development opportunities that result from international flights.
“There is a straight line that connects those long-term relationships with current and future jobs and capital investment for San Antonio.”
