SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio International Airport is set to receive millions of dollars in federal funding.
The funding is part of the Infrastructure and Jobs Act that will dole out over $1 billion to Texas airports in the next few years.
Congressman Joaquin Castro, who said he voted to help secure the funding, visited with airport leaders on Monday to discuss plans to use the funds to improve airport capacity.
“The success of this airport will largely determine the overall economic success of the city,” said Castro.
SA Intl. Airport Director, Jesse Saenz said the total amount going to the airport exceeds $50 million.
“We are going to receive a little over $11 million a year, every year for the next five years,” he said.
Saenz said the money will go toward improving infrastructure at the airport including a baggage handling system, additional gates, and a new terminal.
Travel has been hit hard by the pandemic, but Saenz said the number of travelers at the SA Airport have nearly returned to pre-pandemic when numbers were reaching 10 million.
“I feel pretty confident that we could hit a little over nine million in 2022,” said Saenz. “That means we'll be at 95 percent of where we were in 2019.”
He also said they’ve expanded international travel especially to Mexico.
“We're 59 percent above 2019 numbers already internationally, so we continue to work the international piece as we will continue to move in that direction along with more non-stops here within the U.S.,” said Saenz.
The funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act comes after $75 million in federal funding was handed over to the airport through the 2020 Cares Act and the 2021 American Rescue Plan.
“For years, San Antonio’s leaders have been talking about the difference that federal investments in the airport would make for our city. Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, that moment is finally here,” said Congressman Castro later in a statement. “Over the last two years, I’ve fought for much-needed pandemic relief funding to keep airport workers on the job and protect travelers. As we rebuild from the pandemic, new funding from the infrastructure law will make it possible to expand our airport, create jobs, and bring in business and travelers from across the world.”
According to a press release from Castro, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a bipartisan law that will allow Texas airports to receive $1.2 billion in infrastructure funding over the next five years.
“It's important not just for tourism, but we've often spoken about growing San Antonio industries, making sure that this is not only a home for tourism, but for trade and for continued job growth in San Antonio,” said Castro. “And again, the only way we're going to do that is to have a successful and growing airport.”