A major boost today for San Antonio's Airport, as Frontier Airlines announced non stop service to six cities, including two which currently have no non stop flights from the City, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg said one of the new non stops is to San Jose, which will be a major asset for the region's booming tech sector.
"Non Stop Service to Silicon Valley will greatly benefit San Antonio as we work together to expand out own city's tech and cybersecurity industries, which we are very proud of," the Mayor said.
Frontier also announced additional non stops to cities which already have non stop service from San Antonio, including Phoenix, Orlando, New Orleans, and San Diego.
Lt. Gen. Russ Handy (USAF, Ret), who heads the city's aviation department, says adding new non stops are difficult, which passengers can see by simply looking inside the cabin of a plane at SAT.
"Fifteen years ago if you looked to your left and right on an airplane you would see empty seats," he said. "You don't see that any more, load factors are very high."
He says that is because airlines are experts on where the need for flights is, and the city must make a 'coherent effort' to 'validate that there is a market' for flights.
He said San Antonio officials have met thirty times just this year with airlines trying to expand flights.
Handy also said he is working to reduce the number of San Antonio residents who drive to Austin to catch flights there.
"The rate of what we call 'leakage,' members of our community that drive to Austin is measurable, and we are focused on understanding why that is happening."