The San Antonio International Airport, which has been a punching bag for community leaders, and blamed for economic development failures, has made an amazing recovery in the past two years, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
City Aviation Director Lt. Gen. Russell Handy (USAF, Ret) told City Council he has had to drastically move up target dates for passenger load due to the airport's success in attracting business.
"I stood here last year and told you we hoped to hit 10 million (passengers) in 2025," Handy said. "I guess I failed at that prediction, because we just might hit ten million in 2018."
This is a broad reversal of fortune from just two years ago for San Antonio International Airport.
A 2016 report said at the time San Antonians were heading up I-35 to catch planes at Austin Bergstrom Airport, due to a wider variety of non stop flight options.
The inadequacies of the airport were blamed for economic development setbacks, and there was also talk of building a brand new airport, amid concerns that the current 'landlocked' airport was inadequate to serve what is now the fastest growing big city in the USA.
Brad Parscale, the local tech entrepreneur who is now the campaign manager for President Trump's re-election campaign, in a high profile blog post, complained that businesses, including some of his own operations, were leaving San Antonio due to inadequate non stop service.
Handy says the biggest turnaround has been in non stops, which were at 36 and stagnant little more than a year ago.
"53 non stop destinations now, with one more to go at the end of the year, with Interjet, non stop to Leon Mexico," he said.
Handy says for 2019, his goal is an $8.5 million project to expand both terminals, including adding additional gates and expanding security checkpoints. He says a new, third terminal is not in the immediate future.
There are also plans for passenger boarding bridges, and an upgrade to what Handy called the airport's 'Stone Age' paging system.
He says the new Consolidated Rental Car facility which opened earlier this year, as well as the short term parking garage, with an aerial walkway across the main roads into the terminals was a major development at SAT in 2018, and he said a major resurfacing project of the roads on airport property is now underway, ahead of the busy holiday season.
Handy said Stinson Field is also receiving upgrades as the city promotes Stinson as an alternative terminal for general aviation, as well as business flights.
"A parking lot and front door project is what we are working on at Stinson, to upgrade the parking and add attractive landscaping to the front of the building," he said.
Stinson has boomed in recent years as the terminal upgrade as well as new food service options have enhanced the historic 101 year old terminal. It has also become important for the oil industry, as it is far more accessible than SAT to the Eagle Ford shale fields.
Handy says he sees Stinson playing an increased role as the city's tech industry grows. He is adding lifestyle amenities, including bike paths leading from Stinson into the city.
"I can see where you'll be able to get off a plane at Stinson, grab and bike, and ride all the way to the Pearl," he said.
1200 WOAI PHOTO