San Antonio City Council briefed on plans for new airport terminal

San Antonio city staff briefed City Council on May 18 about the local government’s $2.5 billion Terminal Development Program, which includes the design and construction of a third terminal at the San Antonio International Airport.

According to the presentation, the new terminal and related infrastructure projects, such as a ground transportation center, parking garage and terminal road realignment, will help the North Side airport meet increasing passenger capacity and needs over the next 20 years.

City officials said there are already two projects underway to provide five new gates until the new terminal is opened. The city is working to complete the new facilities as early as mid-2028.

Jesus Saenz, San Antonio Airport System director, said the city has a goal of enhancing passengers’ experience at the local airport as part of the airport system’s overall strategic development program, which City Council approved in November.

Saenz said the airport system has started the next phase of the airfield expansion, which will extend an existing runway to 10,000 feet once complete.

Saenz provided other planned and current airport improvements, including implementation of “smart restrooms,” upgrading electronic video information displays, modernizing the paging system, expanding the Terminal B security checkpoint and new concessionaires opening this summer, such as Whataburger, Beercode and Adina’s Market.

“We are going to be the airport of the future. We are on track to give travelers everything they need—and then some. This is going to be the airport the entire San Antonio community will be proud of,” Saenz said.