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San Antonio remains among the nation’s fastest-growing cities, and its rapid expansion is mirrored by the growth of San Antonio International Airport (SAT), where exciting developments are enhancing visitor experiences, and driving business and tourism.
Over the last couple of years, the airport has successfully worked with airlines to expand and enhance nonstop service from the Alamo City. Many of these additional services will begin in June including daily nonstop service to Philadelphia.
“Airlines, both domestic and international, are watching the growth of San Antonio very carefully,” said Jesus Saenz, Director of Airports for the San Antonio Aviation Department. “Nonstop flights to other major cities are essential connections that play a vital role in fueling economic success for business and tourism. San Antonio has long been the top tourist destination in Texas, but now businesses and major industries looking to expand their footprint are interested in what our city has to offer.”
Nearly 140 people a day traveled between San Antonio and Philadelphia during 2023, according to data from the airport. The nonstop flight will improve the customer experience for these travelers and spur tourism between the City of Brotherly Love and Military City, USA. Both cities boast strong health care and academic institutions, robust defense and aerospace industries and deep military connections.
Not only does this new route offer travelers an easier way to get to Philadelphia, it also gives more options to those looking to travel to or from San Antonio to destinations throughout the Northeast, Canada and Europe.
SAT has plans to support growing passenger traffic with several more nonstop flights coming this year and the development of a new terminal. The new terminal will include up to 17 new gates for both international and domestic travel, along with larger gate hold rooms for enhanced passenger comfort.
SAT has broken passenger records each consecutive month since May 2023 and continues to trend upward. This March, spring break traffic increased by 10% year-over-year, with 347,140 estimated passengers passing through the terminals between March 8 and 17.
The nonstop American Airlines flight between San Antonio and Philadelphia will operate daily beginning June 5. The route was originally announced as summer seasonal, ending Labor Day Weekend, but has recently been extended. “The extension of this nonstop service to Philadelphia is a direct result of support by the community,” Saenz said. “The more you choose to fly from San Antonio, the more airlines will continue to grow in our market.”
These new routes and improvements reflect the essence of SAT’s recently refreshed brand. The new logo incorporates the vibrant colors of the South Texas sky at sunrise, signaling a new dawn for SAT. With plans to continue advancing both domestic and international travel, such as the new nonstop route to Frankfurt, Germany that begins on May 17, the best is yet to come for our airport city.
