San Antonio International Airport News & Updates

[jkill34]

Originally Posted by SproutingTowers

Looks like any runway expansion will not part of this project where this is the statement from SAT.

Land acquisition is required not for any extensions of the runway itself but may be for the edges of the protective surfaces beyond the end of the extended runways (most of which the City already owns). Because improvements in the next 20 years will be made on an incremental basis (for example, taxiway improvements and incremental runway extensions), it will be up to 20 years before we would require additional land. In the meantime, if property near the ends of the main runway or around the airport perimeter becomes available for sale, we hope to be able to buy and hold it for future aeronautical use.

Sounds like you know a lot more than I do. I defer to what you know. It just stated that it was apart of the project in the video.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=G6hPiMOwOc8

[The Model]

I absolutely love everything about this airport project. I think the only thing I'm not a big fan of is the brown exterior cladding. I prefer all glass or maybe another color for the cladding. I also like to see a airport hotel high rise be part of the future plan as well. The new terminal has so much space to move around and all the landscaping is great. We needed this for years! It is finally happening!

[SAonFire]

Apologies if I just didn't notice in the renderings but I would personally like to see some moving walkways added to the final design. They definitely help people move along through the airport with greater efficiency.

I'd also like to see more trees and a mirroring in visual design concepts leading to the airport from 410 and 281. The street signs, street lights, and various fixtures should compliment the airports design.

[babysal]

By Megan Rodriguez,
Staff writer Express News
Dec 17, 2024

San Antonio International Airport has officially landed a coveted nonstop flight to Washington, D.C.

"It is a big, bold step in elevating air service for San Antonio, and building a stronger connection for our business and military communities," Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a social media post celebrating the news.

The U.S. Department of Transportation cleared American Airlines to fly between San Antonio and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

http://https://www.expressnews.com/news/...icially-lands-nonstop-to-dc-19960393.php

[SpiritofSeguin]

"Now that the decision is final, the inaugural flight will come within three months — no later than March 17. American’s plan is to fly out of San Antonio every morning at 6:35 and land in DCA at 11 a.m. Eastern time, with the return flight to San Antonio landing at 10:20 p.m. Central time. The Fort Worth-based airline also proposed making the flight’s number 1718 to recognize the year San Antonio was founded. The flight from DCA to the San Antonio International (SAT) could be 1947 to commemorate the year the U.S. Air Force was established."

Exciting!

[satx23]

November 2024 Stats.

Domestic
Enplanements 429,645
Deplanements 428,874
Total Domestic Pax 858,519

International
Enplanements 33,325
Deplanements 33,086
Total International Pax 66,411

Total Passengers: 924,930

https://flysanantonio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/November-2024-Stats-Report.pdf

[Keegan-B-SATX]

Originally Posted by texboy

That’s an old conceptual rendering in that video. The new terminal still over doubles the size of the existing two terminals combined. The angle of the terminal was more than likely a scale up from the original renders actually as the the original concept didn’t include centralizing ticketing and baggage claim along with sizable lounge areas into the new terminal. Instead it envisioned building out a new concourse, THEN building out a new "central Processing" area with additional gates.

My question is how the Via Green Line factors into this airport design? Are the "Bus Trains" going to go through the airport loop and contribute to the traffic, or are they going to have their own dedicated station? If it is a dedicated station, where is it located on this design? Passengers getting off long flights should Not, and Will Not bother to ride the Green Line unless it is directly accessible from the airport terminal.

[aggie2008]

Originally Posted by Keegan-B-SATX

My question is how the Via Green Line factors into this airport design? Are the "Bus Trains" going to go through the airport loop and contribute to the traffic, or are they going to have their own dedicated station? If it is a dedicated station, where is it located on this design? Passengers getting off long flights should Not, and Will Not bother to ride the Green Line unless it is directly accessible from the airport terminal.

I'm also wondering this. My assumption is that it would be incorporated into the new parking garage or stay where it is. The current location isn't bad - very easy access from the terminal but it does have the potential to be caught up in traffic similar to hotel and parking shuttles. VIA's Green Line planning documents specifically don't cover anything past the transit center and I think it will probably be a separate funding request from DOT at some point to build anything significant.

I just asked for details on the airport website and will see what they say!

[satx23]

Condor drops SAT

https://www.expressnews.com/news/article...st-nonstop-flight-to-europe-19998670.php

[Dot]

to be fair they cut a ton of other us cities. there might have been some court ruling in germany i was seeing on twitter pertaining to some agreement between condor and lufthansa.

[AI0120]

Official press release here

https://www.sa.gov/Directory/News/News-R...es-Discontinues-Service-From-San-Antonio

From the article, "On Friday, the court overturned a longstanding measure enforced by the German Antitrust Authority that required another German airline, Lufthansa, to provide feeder flights to Condor’s network. This measure allowed passengers from North American cities to fly on Condor to Frankfurt and connect onwards on a Lufthansa flight on the same ticket with their bags checked through to their final destination."

Without onward connections, no use in using Condor unless the final destination was FRA. Not sure if the service would have lasted after the 2025 season, but would have been nice to compare the numbers year over year.

[SAhometown]

IMO I thought we about 5 years too soon for any transatlantic flights anyways. I believe when the new terminal opens we will have the proper facilities in place in a few years. Actual airline lounges, modern FIS station, etc. Condor ticket prices in the beginning were just way to high even rivaling Lufthansa for premium service. I will agree with other posters here that London in the future makes the best sense. Let's concentrate now on some gaping domestic spots for now(Portland,Sacramento,Raleigh for example). SAT will be back better than ever!

[Keep-SA-Lame]

Originally Posted by SAhometown

IMO I thought we about 5 years too soon for any transatlantic flights anyways. I believe when the new terminal opens we will have the proper facilities in place in a few years. Actual airline lounges, modern FIS station, etc. Condor ticket prices in the beginning were just way to high even rivaling Lufthansa for premium service. I will agree with other posters here that London in the future makes the best sense. Let's concentrate now on some gaping domestic spots for now(Portland,Sacramento,Raleigh for example). SAT will be back better than ever!

Agreed 100%.

[FightOn!]

Sad to see, but let’s not forget this had allowed other airlines to better understand the European market from SAT. Hopefully this helps getting new service down the line. Love the London idea, it’s also easier to market instead of to Germany.

That’s been a big hurdle Condor was facing, general audience knowing it wasn’t just to FRA, but to all of Europe instead of through Houston, Dallas, etc. Either way, SAT has a bright future ahead!

[satx23]

Spirit launching SAT-SJU!

https://x.com/IshrionA/status/1875215013813637622

[texboy]

Originally Posted by satx23

Spirit launching SAT-SJU!

https://x.com/IshrionA/status/1875215013813637622

Fantastic news and you beat me to it! I gather Spirit has done well at SAT... even if they end up going belly up, any new service that can prove viable on Spirit could lead to service on another airline down the road.

[JACKinBeantown]

That's great in theory, but if you're taller than 5'7" I wouldn't fly Spirit for longer than 90 minutes.

[AwesomeSAView]

Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown

That's great in theory, but if you're taller than 5'7" I wouldn't fly Spirit for longer than 90 minutes.

That's with any airlines, unless you are flying first class!

[jaga185]

Originally Posted by FightOn!

Sad to see, but let’s not forget this had allowed other airlines to better understand the European market from SAT. Hopefully this helps getting new service down the line. Love the London idea, it’s also easier to market instead of to Germany.

That’s been a big hurdle Condor was facing, general audience knowing it wasn’t just to FRA, but to all of Europe instead of through Houston, Dallas, etc. Either way, SAT has a bright future ahead!

I felt MAD would have been better for us. But yeah, I agree it's a stepping stool.

[JACKinBeantown]

Originally Posted by AwesomeSAView

That's with any airlines, unless you are flying first class!

With most airlines it's 5'9". With Spirit it's 5'7".