Officials overseeing the San Antonio International Airport received a double dose of good news in early July with the announcement of a federal grant and the launch of a fund designed to lure new nonstop air service to the airport.
According to a July 7 city news release, the regional economic partnership Greater:SATX has created an Air Service Development Fund, partnering with the organization Visit San Antonio and large companies with regional corporate offices to increase South Texas’ direct connectivity to underserved air markets globally.
City officials said passenger air connectivity continues to be a driving consideration as companies evaluate markets for investment, relocation and expansion.
San Antonio International Airport, the city said, is the largest airport serving the South Texas region, linking passengers directly to more than 40 domestic destinations and Mexico.
More than 10 million passengers—an average of 25,000 daily—fly in and out of the north side airport annually, the release said. In the next 20 years, that number could double to 18 million passengers yearly, the release said.
More direct, nonstop air service would contribute to the San Antonio area’s economic growth, local city and business leaders said.
“San Antonio International Airport has significantly grown nonstop service in recent years. It’s time for us to leverage our resources from across the region to reach the next level,” said Craig Boyan, H-E-B president and Greater:SATX executive committee officer, in a statement.
Boyan said the grocery chain's leaders are proud to be based in San Antonio and committed to investing in the San Antonio airport, which is undergoing the beginnings of a multiyear expansion and improvement project.
“This initiative can help our Greater San Antonio region attract more business investment that ultimately provides more jobs for San Antonians,” Boyan said.
Marc Anderson, Visit San Antonio’s president and CEO, said the city’s attractive leisure, convention and business visitor profile make it a natural driver for expanding connectivity for airline passengers traveling for business or pleasure.
“Visit San Antonio’s new ‘Real and True’ branding campaign that tells the unique, authentic stories of our historic, yet ever-evolving community is successfully attracting new visitors domestically and internationally,” Anderson said in a statement.
In another development, the city July 5 announced the Federal Aviation Administration awarded a $408,000 grant to support the airport’s Pavement Management and Maintenance Program.
According to a news release, this grant is funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act–Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden last fall.
City officials said the grant will allow the San Antonio Aviation Department to study the condition of airfield pavement to identify needs and develop a maintenance program for future airfield pavement improvements. The airport will receive additional grant funds under the federal infrastructure grant’s Airport Infrastructure Grant program in the future.
“This funding allocation will allow us to continue to maintain and improve San Antonio’s Airport System, as we continue to provide the city of San Antonio with an authentic and elevated travel experience,” airport Director Jesus Saenz Jr. said in a statement.
