San Antonio officials give update on airport terminal program, concessions and new parking facility
May 14, 2025 | San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
San Antonio city officials on May 14 told the City Council that work on the city's Terminal Development Program is on schedule and that a series of pre- and post-solicitations will move the airport's expansion projects forward, including a new parking and ground transportation center and a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) solicitation.
City Manager Eric Walsh turned the presentation over to Jesus, an airport staff member, who summarized the terminal program, federal grant activity, and six pre- and post-solicitation processes under way. "We remain keenly focused on the execution of this new transformative terminal," Jesus said, adding the program is currently just above 60% design and that foundational pylons are already being installed at the site adjacent to Terminal B.
The city highlighted passenger and service growth as context for the work: staff said the airport reached 48 nonstop destinations in 2025, up from 38 in February 2019, and reported a 4% overall passenger increase year-over-year for 2024 versus 2023, including roughly 19% growth in international passengers. Jesus said the city has received $232,000,000 in federal funding since 2020 and is seeking about $96,000,000 in federal funding for 2026.
Why this matters: the projects are intended to expand gate capacity, improve passenger amenities and support long-term airport growth as the city builds the new Terminal complex and related infrastructure.
Key projects and procurement results
- Ground-load facility and Terminal work: City staff said the ground-load facility construction is underway and will connect directly to Terminal A; interior build-out was expected to begin in 2025 with substantial completion later in the year. Jesus noted the ground-load facility is a separate construction effort from the new terminal expansion.
- Concessions (food & beverage and retail): After rebidding a food-and-beverage package for Terminal B locations, the evaluation committee selected a proposal described in the presentation as "Host True Flavors" (evaluation score: 94 points). Staff estimated the concession package could generate a little over $12,000,000 in revenue during a 10-year term, with a minimum annual guarantee near $960,000 in the first year and a revenue-share rate of about 13% to the airport compared with 9% under the earlier solicitation. Staff said the proposal exceeded the airport's concessions DBE goal through a joint venture arrangement; the presentation referenced local concepts including Bakery Lorraine and a tasting-room concept.
- Parking and ground transportation center: The post-solicitation plan presented would accommodate up to 2,500 vehicles (described as four levels with roughly 450'500 spots per level) and be designed to support future eVTOL operations on the roof. The delivery method is design-build with a contract value presented as about $110,000,000. Jesus said the facility will centralize access to taxis, ride-hail, shuttles and public transportation, and include climate-controlled elevators.
- Parking evaluation: The evaluation committee shortlisted firms including JE Dunn Construction and Austin Commercial; committee members cited JE Dunn's local experience and innovative approaches to traffic and vehicular movement around the airport.
- Airfield construction manager-at-risk (CMAR): Staff described a post-solicitation for an airfield CMAR. The presentation said Austin Bridge & Road performed strongly in interviews and demonstrated experience on airfield projects; finance reviewed proposed costing methodology separately. Jesus said early enabling projects on the airfield have begun and that the operations and maintenance teams have maintained "0 discrepancies" on airfield safety for three years.
- Maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility pre-solicitation: Staff described a planned solicitation for an MRO facility with an initial 20-year term and multiple renewal options and a minimum annual guarantee cited at $1,800,000. Evaluation criteria and DBE/SBE goals were outlined in the presentation.
- Terminal A/B rehabilitation: Staff described planned solicitations for architectural design and a CMAR to modernize Terminal A and Terminal B, extend their useful life and align them with the new terminal's design standards. The presentation identified an approximate design budget of $35,000,000 and an estimated CMAR contract value of $260,000,000, funded with airport revenue bonds and interim financing; DBE goals for each solicitation were listed.
Council questions and staff responses
Council members asked for timing and certainty on federal grants, parking garage completion and runway plans. Jesus characterized the city's confidence in pending federal grants as "very high," saying the city maintains shelf-ready projects and has met with FAA officials; he noted specific notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) expected in July and August for certain terminal funding elements.
On the parking facility timeline, Jesus said the city hopes to complete the new garage "sometime in the fall of 2027, before we open the new terminal complex." On runway expansion, Jesus said the long-term plan is to move to two parallel runways and staff are pursuing enabling projects and a $25,000,000 rehabilitation package for runway 13R/31L, with a reported FAA commitment of $17,000,000 toward that rehabilitation.
Several council members asked about public communication and wayfinding for passengers moving between the parking structure and terminals; staff said they will increase outreach and noted users can register multiple vehicles on one credit card for the new parking ticketing feature.
No formal council action taken
Council recessed into an executive session after the briefing; the meeting minutes state the council reconvened at 3:10 p.m. and that no official action was taken during the executive session.
Ending note
Staff said they will return with post-solicitation recommendations on several items over the next 12 months and continue to seek federal grant funding to support the program.
City Manager Eric Walsh turned the presentation over to Jesus, an airport staff member, who summarized the terminal program, federal grant activity, and six pre- and post-solicitation processes under way. "We remain keenly focused on the execution of this new transformative terminal," Jesus said, adding the program is currently just above 60% design and that foundational pylons are already being installed at the site adjacent to Terminal B.
The city highlighted passenger and service growth as context for the work: staff said the airport reached 48 nonstop destinations in 2025, up from 38 in February 2019, and reported a 4% overall passenger increase year-over-year for 2024 versus 2023, including roughly 19% growth in international passengers. Jesus said the city has received $232,000,000 in federal funding since 2020 and is seeking about $96,000,000 in federal funding for 2026.
Why this matters: the projects are intended to expand gate capacity, improve passenger amenities and support long-term airport growth as the city builds the new Terminal complex and related infrastructure.
Key projects and procurement results
- Ground-load facility and Terminal work: City staff said the ground-load facility construction is underway and will connect directly to Terminal A; interior build-out was expected to begin in 2025 with substantial completion later in the year. Jesus noted the ground-load facility is a separate construction effort from the new terminal expansion.
- Concessions (food & beverage and retail): After rebidding a food-and-beverage package for Terminal B locations, the evaluation committee selected a proposal described in the presentation as "Host True Flavors" (evaluation score: 94 points). Staff estimated the concession package could generate a little over $12,000,000 in revenue during a 10-year term, with a minimum annual guarantee near $960,000 in the first year and a revenue-share rate of about 13% to the airport compared with 9% under the earlier solicitation. Staff said the proposal exceeded the airport's concessions DBE goal through a joint venture arrangement; the presentation referenced local concepts including Bakery Lorraine and a tasting-room concept.
- Parking and ground transportation center: The post-solicitation plan presented would accommodate up to 2,500 vehicles (described as four levels with roughly 450'500 spots per level) and be designed to support future eVTOL operations on the roof. The delivery method is design-build with a contract value presented as about $110,000,000. Jesus said the facility will centralize access to taxis, ride-hail, shuttles and public transportation, and include climate-controlled elevators.
- Parking evaluation: The evaluation committee shortlisted firms including JE Dunn Construction and Austin Commercial; committee members cited JE Dunn's local experience and innovative approaches to traffic and vehicular movement around the airport.
- Airfield construction manager-at-risk (CMAR): Staff described a post-solicitation for an airfield CMAR. The presentation said Austin Bridge & Road performed strongly in interviews and demonstrated experience on airfield projects; finance reviewed proposed costing methodology separately. Jesus said early enabling projects on the airfield have begun and that the operations and maintenance teams have maintained "0 discrepancies" on airfield safety for three years.
- Maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility pre-solicitation: Staff described a planned solicitation for an MRO facility with an initial 20-year term and multiple renewal options and a minimum annual guarantee cited at $1,800,000. Evaluation criteria and DBE/SBE goals were outlined in the presentation.
- Terminal A/B rehabilitation: Staff described planned solicitations for architectural design and a CMAR to modernize Terminal A and Terminal B, extend their useful life and align them with the new terminal's design standards. The presentation identified an approximate design budget of $35,000,000 and an estimated CMAR contract value of $260,000,000, funded with airport revenue bonds and interim financing; DBE goals for each solicitation were listed.
Council questions and staff responses
Council members asked for timing and certainty on federal grants, parking garage completion and runway plans. Jesus characterized the city's confidence in pending federal grants as "very high," saying the city maintains shelf-ready projects and has met with FAA officials; he noted specific notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) expected in July and August for certain terminal funding elements.
On the parking facility timeline, Jesus said the city hopes to complete the new garage "sometime in the fall of 2027, before we open the new terminal complex." On runway expansion, Jesus said the long-term plan is to move to two parallel runways and staff are pursuing enabling projects and a $25,000,000 rehabilitation package for runway 13R/31L, with a reported FAA commitment of $17,000,000 toward that rehabilitation.
Several council members asked about public communication and wayfinding for passengers moving between the parking structure and terminals; staff said they will increase outreach and noted users can register multiple vehicles on one credit card for the new parking ticketing feature.
No formal council action taken
Council recessed into an executive session after the briefing; the meeting minutes state the council reconvened at 3:10 p.m. and that no official action was taken during the executive session.
Ending note
Staff said they will return with post-solicitation recommendations on several items over the next 12 months and continue to seek federal grant funding to support the program.
Don't Miss a Word: See the Full Meeting!
Go beyond summaries. Unlock every video, transcript, and key insight with a Founder Membership.
✓
Get instant access to full meeting videos
✓
Search and clip any phrase from complete transcripts
✓
Receive AI-powered summaries & custom alerts
✓
Enjoy lifetime, unrestricted access to government data
30-day money-back guarantee
Sponsors
Proudly supported by sponsors who keep Texas articles free in 2026
