Hampton Brown, Vice President, revenue generation, marketing and innovation for San Diego Airport (SAN), joined our meeting on June 30, 2022 to outline ongoing progress at SAN, particularly work to modernize Terminal 1. These improvements are urgently needed, since Southwest, which uses Terminal 1 gates, services 32% of SAN passengers. In addition, many of Southwest’s flights are within California, and the frequency of these flights is now back to pre-pandemic levels.
International service at SAN is also up by around 27% with options for non-stop travel between SAN and London Heathrow, Munich, Toronto, Montreal, and Tokyo. Hampton said that SAN is actively seeking more non-stop domestic flights, especially a return of flights to Reagan National airport.
Work on Terminal 1 began on November 1, 2021 and the new T1 parking structure is expected to open late 2024. Phase I of construction that will offer new Terminal 1 Gates 1-10 should open in 2025 followed by more new gates in Phase II, scheduled for completion 2027. The wait will be worth it. The renovations will provide more than 1 million square feet of modern terminal space with an outdoor patio area and better access roads. Click HERE to take a virtual tour of the new Terminal 1.
As work on Terminal 1 progresses, there will be traffic challenges. Hampton encourages SAN travelers to explore a variety of transit options. In particular, SAN passengers can take the Coaster or Trolley to the Old Town Transit Center, where they can transfer to the free, all-electric shuttle bus, the San Diego Flyer. The Flyer runs every 20 minutes and stops at both terminals. Click HERE for information about the Flyer, with schedules and an informational video.