San Antonio International Airport (SAT): History, Terminals, and What's Next.

Whether you're flying in for business or picking someone up at baggage claim, it helps to know a little about the airport you're navigating. Here's a quick rundown of San Antonio International Airport — where it came from, how it's laid out today, and what's changing in the years ahead.

A Brief History

San Antonio International Airport traces back to 1941, when the City of San Antonio purchased 1,200 acres north of downtown for what was originally planned as a municipal airport. World War II delayed those civilian plans — the site instead opened in July 1942 as Alamo Field, a U.S. Army Air Forces training base. Commercial service began in 1943, when Braniff International Airways launched the airport's first scheduled passenger flights using Douglas DC-3 aircraft, with American Airlines following a year later. The airport adopted its current name, San Antonio International Airport, in 1944.

The terminal layout has evolved substantially since then. Terminal A dates back to 1984, while the current Terminal B building opened in 2010, replacing the airport's original Terminal 2.

Terminals, Gates, and Airlines Today

SAT spans roughly 2,600 acres with three runways and two passenger terminals — A and B — totaling 27 gates. The airport supports 14 airlines with nonstop service to more than 50 destinations across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. 2024 was its busiest year on record, with over 11 million passengers passing through.

What's Changing: The Terminal A Expansion

In March 2026, SAT opened a new $55 million ground-loading facility that expanded Terminal A by three gates — a roughly 37,000-square-foot addition supporting both domestic and international flights, complete with new passenger areas and a federal inspection station for international arrivals. Unlike most of SAT's jet-bridge gates, passengers departing from these new gates walk across the tarmac to board.

This was just the first phase. It's part of the airport's broader $2.5 billion capital improvement program, known as Elevate SAT, aimed at modernizing the airfield, terminals, and ground access over the next two decades.

The Bigger Project: A New Terminal C

The headline item in that plan is an entirely new terminal. Terminal C will be able to accommodate up to three wide-body aircraft at once — something the existing terminals can't do without closing other gates — spanning more than 850,000 square feet and slated to open in 2028. It will add up to 17 new gates, bringing the airport's total gate count to roughly 40 once completed.

What This Means for Travelers

As SAT grows, parking, drop-off, and pickup logistics are shifting too — construction near Terminal B has affected arrival and departure lanes in recent months, with short-term parking recommended for pickups in the meantime. That's exactly the kind of detail a private black car service tracks for you. At MM Transfers, we stay current on terminal changes, gate locations, and construction-related routing so your pick up or drop-off goes smoothly no matter what's under construction that week.

Security and Customs at SAT

San Antonio International Airport has 2 security checkpoints, with 1 located on the departures level in each terminal area.

Both checkpoints open at 3:30 a.m. and close around 30 minutes before the final departure of the day.

Terminal	Hours of Operation
A	3:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
B	3:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Global Entry

SAT has Global Entry kiosks for pre-approved passengers arriving in the U.S. on international flights.

The airport has a Global Entry Enrollment Center located in Terminal A arrivals that is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Mobile Passport

Mobile Passport Control is not accepted at San Antonio International Airport.

Additional Airport Information

Travelers Aid International is not based at SAT. Passengers can get information and assistance from volunteer ambassadors based on the information desks located at:

• Terminal A: Near the ticketing desks as you come into baggage claim and near the escalators in the baggage claim

• Terminal B: Opposite the ticketing desks and near the chapel

  
  

Children’s Play Areas

SAT has a children’s play area in Terminal A near gate A16. Your little ones may also love petting the therapy dogs that roam the airport as part of its Pups & Planes program. Despite these kid-friendly attractions, San Antonio International Airport didn’t make our most kid-friendly airports in the U.S.

Flying Through SAT?

Let Us Handle the Ground Transportation

Whether you're navigating a brand-new gate in the Terminal A expansion or arriving at Terminal B, MM Transfers provides reliable, professional black car service to and from San Antonio International Airport. Contact us to book your airport transfer.