SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – DECEMBER 12, 2018: A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 passenger jet takes off from San Antonio International Airport in Texas. (Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — San Antonio City Council is announcing long-term lease agreements between San Antonio International Airport and the airlines that operate there.
Some of the 10-year agreements could last as long as 15 years due to possible extensions in the future.
The agreements come at a time in which a brand new terminal is planned for the future, but there is a holdout.
Dallas-based Southwest Airlines is not signing its lease agreement over a dispute over the company’s location moving ahead.
“Southwest has communicated to us that they don’t want to remain in the existing Terminal A,” said Assistant City Manager Jeff Coyle. “The reality is not everybody can fit in the new terminal we’re building.”
The future plan puts Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and international carriers in the coming Terminal C. Other airlines, such United Airlines and Spirit Airlines, will operate in existing Terminal B.
Southwest Airlines would remain in existing Terminal A with what the city believes is a key incentive.
“We’ve committed 200 million dollars to make improvements to Terminal A to shrink it from 17 gates to 10 gates so that there will be more space for all of the passengers and a better and more efficient operation,” said Coyle.
Other improvements to Terminal A would include updated security checkpoints, ticketing counters and restrooms.
Southwest Airlines currently operates out of six gates, and the plan is to grant its request to expand to 10 gates in Terminal A.
The City of San Antonio remains confident that a deal with Southwest Airlines will eventually fall into place.
More about: