SAN ANTONIO — Though there’s no plans to takeoff, conversations between Southwest Airlines and the San Antonio International Airport continue.
The airline's COO Andrew Watterson flew in from Dallas to speak with the city's Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Council to hash things out.
Southwest wants to move to a larger terminal that will support their projected growth, which would be terminal C, expected to be built by 2028 but the airport wants them to stay where they are.
Watterson said the meeting with the chamber and business leaders in the city was to better understand how Southwest can move forward in the city.
"There are solutions that accommodate the city’s desires and solutions that accommodate Southwest airlines operational needs," Watterson added. "Those do overlap and I think it’s incumbent for leaders on both sides to find that solution."
They made plans Thursday to bring city leaders to Dallas Tuesday to continue conversations.
Right now the problem is space.
According to a Southwest spokesperson, the new terminal C will be a little over 120 ft. wide, and right now terminal A is 75 ft. With the renovations to terminal A, the airport said it’ll accommodate Southwest, but the airline says it won’t.
If the airline does not sign an agreement with the airport by the end of the month they will be charged higher rates to operate out of the airport.
The director of airports Jesus Saenz said at this point they want to find a solution and keep Southwest here.
“They’ve (Southwest) had a long history here and we want them to continue as a tenant here," Saenz said. "We feel they will, we’ve just got to iron a couple things out and we’ll get there."
When asked what the answer for Southwest is, Watterson said they need to be able to operate 10 gates and have the space that goes along with it but terminal A does not have that right now.