San Antonio International Airport News & Updates - Page 57

vivazap01 · #**1121** Posted **Oct 2, 2025, 11:15 PM**

This airport facility should be opening soon. There will be three "gates" plus two extra parking pads....That's room to handle five aircraft at time.
Anybody know what airlines will be using it?!

texboy · #**1122** Posted **Oct 3, 2025, 1:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivazap01

This airport facility should be opening soon. There will be three "gates" plus two extra parking pads....That's room to handle five aircraft at time.
Anybody know what airlines will be using it?!

Right now, I believe it'll be Frontier and possssssibly Volaris, but only for outbound flights. Facility is not international capable.

JACKinBeantown · #**1123** Posted **Oct 3, 2025, 1:24 PM**

Anybody have a chance to take a photo?

vivazap01 · #**1124** Posted **Oct 3, 2025, 10:34 PM**

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/SCX8401/history/20251003/1925Z/KSAT/KPH

I remember the days I worked with UTSA staff saying they will never
never have a football program!

vivazap01 · #**1125** Posted **Oct 5, 2025, 10:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by texboy

Right now, I believe it'll be Frontier and possssssibly Volaris, but only for outbound flights. Facility is not international capable.

An update I read stated the new facility will open sometime in 2026. This is taking forever for a building constructed like an airport hangar!
It is also supposed to have an Intergrated Federal Inspection Station for international arrivals.
https://www.sa.gov/Directory/News-Releases/Airport-Celebrates-Beginning-of-Ground-Load-Facility

texboy · #**1126** Posted **Oct 6, 2025, 2:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivazap01

An update I read stated the new facility will open sometime in 2026. This is taking forever for a building constructed like an airport hangar!
It is also supposed to have an Intergrated Federal Inspection Station for international arrivals.
https://www.sa.gov/Directory/News-Releases/Airport-Celebrates-Beginning-of-Ground-Load-Facility

Well that's good to know about the inspection station! The facility didn't start construction in earnest until late last year, so I'd say its right on time/early. It may look like a simple facility, but it is more than just a hangar. There is a restaurant and bar and it has to follow all building codes for this type of facility including any FAA requirements. I flew into A a week or so ago and got a slight glimpse of the facility from the aisle seat and it looks VERY close to completion. I wouldn't be surprised if they push to get it open by the holidays.

vivazap01 · #**1127** Posted **Oct 12, 2025, 9:43 PM**

10-12-25
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/N551FR/history/20251012/0830Z/LIRP/KSAT
Galileo Galilei(Pisa Int'l)
https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/11845261

vivazap01 · #**1128** Posted **Oct 26, 2025, 10:48 PM**

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/PSMTR
(Belo Horizonte, Brazil)
https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10056403

vivazap01 · #**1129** Posted **Oct 26, 2025, 11:26 PM**

The most distant flight I have ever seen out of SAT!!
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/VJT783/history/20251026/2310Z/KSAT/UTDD
Nonstop San Antonio to Dushanbe, Tajikistan 14hrs+20min 7,675 miles
https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10372491

jkill34 · #**1130** Posted **Oct 27, 2025, 2:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivazap01

The most distant flight I have ever seen out of SAT!!
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/VJT783/history/20251026/2310Z/KSAT/UTDD
Nonstop San Antonio to Dushanbe, Tajikistan 14hrs+20min 7,675 miles
https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10372491

That's interesting. I thought out runway couldn't handle international flights?

texboy · #**1131** Posted **Oct 27, 2025, 2:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkill34

That's interesting. I thought out runway couldn't handle international flights?

It can, it just can't handle a fully loaded 777/787 to places like Europe, runway is too short.

Airport is down YOY by 2.5%. Honestly, I think this is ok. There was a huge jump in demand last year from the pandemic, add in a tougher economy this year and I think all in all SAT is faring pretty well.

September 2025 Statistics Report

Quote:

In September 2025, the San Antonio International Airport’s passenger numbers reached 834,702. Passenger levels for the month were down 3.2% compared to September 2024 while overall commercial airline capacity for the airport was down 6.1%. Several factors resulted in passenger numbers being below 2024 levels. This includes some reduction in demand because of economic uncertainty. While passenger numbers were down year-over-year, cargo numbers continue to rise. A total of 24,218,933 pounds of air cargo moved through SAT during the month. This is up over 23% compared to September 2024. Year to date, cargo numbers are up by 19% with each month of 2025 bringing in more cargo than the year prior.

JACKinBeantown · #**1132** Posted **Oct 30, 2025, 3:07 PM**

Some decent shots of the airport starting at 1:16:00.

• Video Link

Sean1187 · #**1133** Posted **Oct 31, 2025, 3:00 PM**

VIEW FROM THE WING article:

San Antonio Airport Refuses To Cash Southwest’s Rent Checks, Strips Their Gates Bare, and Demands $20 Million

"Meanwhile, the airport is converting Southwest’s proprietary counters and gates to Common Use. That means no more branding, kiosks, or even boarding group stanchions. They haven’t signed the lease, they don’t get dedicated branding reserved for airlines that do."

jkill34 · #**1134** Posted **Oct 31, 2025, 6:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean1187

VIEW FROM THE WING article:

San Antonio Airport Refuses To Cash Southwest’s Rent Checks, Strips Their Gates Bare, and Demands $20 Million

"Meanwhile, the airport is converting Southwest’s proprietary counters and gates to Common Use. That means no more branding, kiosks, or even boarding group stanchions. They haven’t signed the lease, they don’t get dedicated branding reserved for airlines that do."

Ballzy by SAT! But I'm here for it if it brings Southwest to the table.

ILUVSAT · #**1135** Posted **Oct 31, 2025, 7:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkill34

Ballzy by SAT! But I'm here for it if it brings Southwest to the table.

This is to be expected - as a non-signatory airline.

This will be something to watch. SWA already has announced plans to make AUS their busiest airport in Texas by the early 2030s (taking much of their new satellite concourse to themselves).

SWA is not going to leave SAT. However, as a non-signartory airline, their airport fees will increase making flights out into and out of SAT more expensive.

Tyrone Shoes · #**1136** Posted **Nov 1, 2025, 8:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean1187

VIEW FROM THE WING article:

San Antonio Airport Refuses To Cash Southwest’s Rent Checks, Strips Their Gates Bare, and Demands $20 Million

"Meanwhile, the airport is converting Southwest’s proprietary counters and gates to Common Use. That means no more branding, kiosks, or even boarding group stanchions. They haven’t signed the lease, they don’t get dedicated branding reserved for airlines that do."

I sure hope the Airport folks know what they're doing...this could backfire

texastarkus · #**1137** Posted **Nov 3, 2025, 7:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyrone Shoes

I sure hope the Airport folks know what they're doing...this could backfire

With a large port just up the road we're not operating from a position of strength...
dad always said
"The key to playing chicken is knowing when to flinch."

ILUVSAT · #**1138** Posted **Nov 3, 2025, 8:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by texastarkus

With a large port just up the road we're not operating from a position of strength...
dad always said
"The key to playing chicken is knowing when to flinch."

Great quote!

...and, that port will roughly be double it's size by 2030 (with the ability/vision to almost triple that going into the future).

vivazap01 · #**1139** Posted **Nov 7, 2025, 3:24 AM**

1944 Douglas A-26 Invader departed bouts 9:15 destination unkwn..maybe LRD.
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/N26BP/history/20251107/0311Z/KSAT

texboy · #**1140** Posted **Nov 7, 2025, 3:32 PM**

I'll say it again... I think this could leave a huge opening for an airline like Alaska or Breeze (Breeze has previously stated they'd like to re-enter the SA market at some point) to come in and expand if Southwest refuses to sign a lease (spoiler alert, they will eventually sign a lease... we all know this). The market is there obviously and if Southwest starts abandoning SAT market share, the homework has already been done for another airline to expand or (re)enter the SA market. You think southwest is going to let that happen? My guess is not... since their profit margin at SAT is higher than any other airport in Texas... Yes even higher than everyone's golden boy up the road.

Its really sad to see this. Seems to be the theme of the day where two sides just refuse to sit down and figure it out for the betterment of everyone. San Antonio IS a growing market. It IS an attractive market to expand in. I think SAT is playing their cards right in not backing down to a company that has gone from hometown airline to a bully.