One of the fastest growing airports in the state of Texas, San Antonio International Airport is set to receive a massive, US$1.4 billion brand-new terminal. The state is home to many firms that play a key role in the country’s aviation industry. The Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, for example, is the second-busiest airport in the country. Additionally, it is home to two of the largest airlines in the world, Southwest Airlines and American Airlines. The San Antonio International Airport has grown incredibly in the past few years in as much as it is not the busiest airport in the state.
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Construction on the airport is expected to begin today, December 10th on Terminal C. The US$1.4 billion project will effectively double the size of the airport and unlock further growth potential. It will also allow better connections to other parts of the country and the world. For the first ten months of this year, San Antonio airport has broken passenger volume records, giving encouragement to the stakeholders of this project. In July, passenger numbers soared to 1,032,610, according to KENS 5, a local news source. The Terminal C project is part of a larger US$2.5 billion effort to renovate the airport, preparing it for the future.
Project Factsheet
Location: San Antonio International Airport, Texas
Total Cost: US$1.4 billion
Jobs Created: 6,000
Scope: 832,000 square feet, housing 17 gates
Project Contractor: Hensel Phelps
Details on the San Antonio International Airport project
Terminal C will create approximately 6,000 jobs as part of the construction process and during operation. Renderings for the airport have featured an outdoor courtyard for passengers who have passed through security. Furthermore, it features a new parking garage and transportation center. According to official documents, the team aims to open the terminal in 2028. Despite not having any legacy carrier, like its counterparts, Dallas-Fort Worth or Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport, the airport has shown tremendous growth. The market share for the airport is as follows; Southwest commands 36%, American Airlines has 20%, followed by Delta Airlines, United Airlines and Spirit Airlines. The growing passenger numbers have shown just how critical the airport is in connecting Texans.
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Dispute with Southwest Airlines
There has, however, been some dispute with Southwest Airlines who was not pleased with the plans for the new terminal. Since 1971, the carrier has been serving San Antonio International Airport. The company claims that airport officials promised that most of all of its ten gates would be transferred to the new terminal. Current plans, however, have shown that Southwest Airlines will remain at its current terminal.
The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Terminal C upgrade
Four months ago, a US$3 billion project started on the world’s 3rd ranked most-traveled airport. Officials at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport broke ground on a project to renovate and expand Terminal C. This is the busiest and the oldest terminal at the airport. The project involves the addition of 115,000 square feet and four gates. Moreover, there will be new check-in areas, security checkpoints, better washrooms and bigger lounge space. Construction is expected to be completed in 2030.
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