SA Airport Terminal B Coming Soon (San Antonio, Austin: how much, construction, contractors)

[Bo]

District 9 Councilman Louis Rowe's office told me in an email this morning that ground will be broken soon for Terminal B at the San Antonio International Airport. This new facility is the first of two new terminals scheduled to be built at the airport. "B" will be located directly between the existing terminals 1 & 2 and will have about 204,000 square feet of space and consist of eight gates. They said to look for the ceremony to take place early this month, with a completion date of early 2010.

[banker]

This is great news. I remember going to a city planning meeting for the Airport and the Loop 410 upgrades about 10 years ago. They talked about how much the city would change over the next 10-15 years and so far those reports a decade ago were correct. The Loop 410 project is now nearly complete and the city has grown substantially. A larger more modern airport will help our city's stature on the national level.

[BenjaminNicholas]

As a frequent flyer, I'm all for SAT's expansion, but...

Did your city council person also tell you that construction completion is nearing the 2011 mark at this point, thank to the city being EXTREMELY lax in releasing funds to the contractors? I've been watching this excruciatingly slow process of simple construction tasks go on now for nearly a year. I'm at SAT once or twice a week.

What was once a project that would take 'at the max, perhaps 2009' (as per former SAT head honcho Kevin Dolio) is now two years past that. The city needs to stop acting idiotic and realize just how important this project is: It's the first and last thing people see when they're in the city. We need a facility that not only can handle additional traffic, but one that's indicative of how fantastic this city is.



BN

[Bo]

Originally Posted by BenjaminNicholas

Did your city council person also tell you that construction completion is nearing the 2011 mark at this point, thank to the city being EXTREMELY lax in releasing funds to the contractors?

I seem to recall reading somewhere that there were performance issues or disagreements about the finished product that were causing delays. I had not heard of any foot-dragging on the city's part. Knowing how these things can proceed, both sides could be putting up smokescreens to deflect finger-pointing.

Last year, I saw a presentation on the expansion plans by Mark Webb, the current Aviation Director. He struck me as a very competent, stand-up guy.

[Lauren0319]

Woohoo! I'm all for airport growth.. any chance SAT might become a hub for an airline? My H is a pilot and that would be amazing!!!

[oldmanshirt]

Bout time!

[Aiphanes]

This is awesome! 2010 is not that far off!

[firstclassflyer]

Originally Posted by Lauren0319

Woohoo! I'm all for airport growth.. any chance SAT might become a hub for an airline? My H is a pilot and that would be amazing!!!

I doubt it. The current economy doesn't support another hub being created by any airline @ SAT. As we speak,airlines are contracting not expanding. Also, we have 2 major hubs that are only a 45 minute flight away. (IAH and DFW). As a frequent flyer , I am at SAT at least 2-4 times per week and have witnessed the slooooowwww progress. It's really an eyesore. I've had a plethora of friends, relatives, staff and colleagues fly into SAT for various reasons and am growing weary of the "what's up with your airport " comments that I inevitably receive.

[hadleyzoo]

WHOOHOO! (Jumping up and down for joy!) So that means Disney is coming now that the airport is expanding?

(Sorry...I just HAD to take it there.)

[tgannaway89]

SAT will likely not become a HUB in the forseeable future. As it is right now ABIA is actually busier and services more non-stop locations. We do have more Fortune 500 companies which demand more service, but I believe Austin is cheaper. Any word on when/if terminal C will begin construction? Also, the city mentioned turning Stinson into a reliever airort. Is this still the plan?