San Antonio airport officials will break ground Dec. 10 on a planned new air terminal — expanding the number of gates from 27 to 40.
It’s the first major project at the San Antonio International Airport (SAT) since Terminal B opened in 2010. The $1.68 billion new terminal is expected to be completed in 2028.
The groundbreaking event marks a major milestone and the costliest component of the 20-year, $2.5 billion airport strategic development plan approved in November 2021.
Designed by the architecture firm Corgan, along with Lake Flato Architects, the new terminal will be 800,000 square feet — bigger than the two existing terminals combined — and built west of Terminal B in an area now used for parking.
Those two terminals will be linked as one and connected to Terminal A by a concourse.
The new terminal will feature a central processing area for ticketing and security, up to 17 gates, spacious departure and arrival lanes, expansive waiting areas, a courtyard and club lounges.
Three gates will be built for wide-body aircraft to accommodate international flights.
The federal inspection station for international travelers that is now located in Terminal A will move to the new terminal and will double in size.
In September, SAT’s largest carrier, Southwest Airlines, declined to join other major airlines in signing a new lease and use agreement that went into effect on Oct. 1 and sued the airport for discrimination.
The low-cost carrier argued that it should be assigned 10 gates in the new terminal or a promise of better upgrades in Terminal A, where the Southwest gates are planned.
The airline asked for a scheduled Dec. 16-18 court hearing to be postponed and a new date has not been set, according to a city spokesman.
The airport strategic plan also includes upgrades to runways and a ground transportation center.
Construction on the ground load facility which began October 2023 is expected to be completed in the spring.
Ground loading is commonly used at smaller airports and by low-cost carriers, and is designed to efficiently move people on and off airplanes with less cost, thus reducing airfares.
