San Antonio International Airport Master Plan Study Summary

In 1993, the City of San Antonio retained a team of consultants led by Ricondo & Associates, Inc. to prepare a Master Plan update for San Antonio International Airport.  In May of 1998 the Federal Aviation Administration approved the update. 

The update was composed of two phases.  The first phase projected a range of aviation activity under various demand scenarios which might be expected to occur over the 20-year planning horizon (1995-2015).  It assessed the impacts of such demand scenarios on existing facilities.  

Alternatives to accommodate airfield requirements were considered first.  These included on-site development options both within the existing airport boundaries and beyond, and off-site development at a new location.  In all, 17 options for expansion of the existing airfield were considered.  As a comparison to on-site development, two conceptual plans were presented for development of a new airport and various potential sites were examined, including Randolph AFB and Kelly AFB.  Each alternative was assessed for operational efficiency and capacity, physical impacts to existing and proposed development around the Airport, cost of development, and environmental considerations.  Proposed alignments of the Interstate Highway Loop 410/State Highway 281 interchange and Wurzbach Parkway were considered in the assessment.  The evaluation of alternatives identified a series of three on-site development actions which could be constructed incrementally, as demand dictates, to accommodate anticipated future activity over the planning horizon. These preferred series of options were recommended for City Council approval. 

Phase 2 of the update refined the selected alternatives to create a detailed development plan, designed to be implemented in logical, incremental steps.  Work included the implementation plan, which outlined programs for monitoring and assessing the timing of development based on need; an overview of environmental impacts associated with pursuing the recommended plan; and a financial analysis, which evaluated the financial feasibility of implementation and identified sources of funding for the work.  

An analysis similar to that in Phase 1 was conducted in Phase 2 in order to select an optimal terminal layout.  Nineteen alternatives were assessed for operational efficiency, passenger convenience, environmental considerations, flexibility to provide incremental expansion capability, physical requirements, and development costs.  Concepts were reviewed with the Master Plan committees and with the airline technical representatives.  The recommended terminal development concept provides the best mix of characteristics to service existing and future demands. 

Redevelopment goals for Kelly AFB were considered when assessing the alternatives for San Antonio International Airport.  Plans for Kelly AFB include an aerospace industrial complex, warehouse area, logistics/distribution center, and office/business support areas.  This type of development is complementary to the aviation activity anticipated at San Antonio International Airport.  It will allow the Airport to serve increasing levels of aviation activity, while Kelly provides additional opportunities for aviation-related industrial and business development.  Since the Air Force will retain ownership of the runway, neither scheduled passenger traffic nor a significant amount of general aviation traffic are planned for Kelly. 

The Master Plan update concluded that no capacity problems exist with the airfield or terminal today.  While the existing airfield and terminals can handle anticipated aircraft and passenger growth at least through 2002, minimal incremental development may be required to meet aviation demands over the next 20 years.   

Timing for implementation of individual projects will be based on actual demand.  Through regular monitoring and analysis of available statistics and an understanding of growth trends, the Aviation Department can respond in a strategic manner to meet actual demand, planning for and developing facilities when needed.  Community and technical committees will again be asked to participate during each of the incremental development stages. 

Master Plan (Click here to download)

Disclaimer:
The map provided was prepared for general illustrative purposes in connection with the Executive Summary of the San Antonio International Airport Master Plan, and does not reflect the detail covered in the full Master Plan document.  For more comprehensive information, copies of the full Master Plan can be accessed at the San Antonio Public Library.