From the oil industry to military training to international manufacturing to holiday shoppers from Mexico, more and more private planes are landing in San Antonio from foreign countries, and now they have a new General Aviation Federal Inspection Station to speed their progress through customs, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Jeb Murdoch, who heads Customs and Border Protection for this region, says the new station, which is on the east end of the airport near the private aviation terminals, replaces a temporary station in Terminal A that was unsafe and unsecure.
"Passengers walking across the tarmac in front of ground crew, and big commercial jets, and my own staff out there."
City Manager Sheryl Sculley says the new international customs station will make San Antonio a more convenient destination for foreign visitors.
"This project elevates our level of customer service and helps attracting more international travelers," she said.
Councilman John Courage, whose district includes the Airport, says the new station is opening just in time for what is expected to be a busy year for international visitors in 2018.
"Next year's highly anticipated Tricentennial celebration for San Antonio, and the Final Four in March."