San Antonio’s nonstop flight to the future
In May, travelers can fly nonstop to Europe from the San Antonio International Airport. City leaders and executives from Condor airlines last week announced the new flights to Frankfurt, Germany, which will run three times weekly from May through September.
The offering is the city’s first commercial nonstop flight to Europe and another step forward in the reimaging of San Antonio International Airport, which is about to take off on a $2.5 billion expansion that will add muchneeded gates and amenities, including a courtyard that will provide a sense of place.
A direct link to Europe is long overdue, but the journey to build an airport that reflects the nation’s seventh-most populous city (and 24th-largest metropolitan statistical area) is ongoing. Much work remains, including restoring a nonstop flight to Toronto and improving a number of domestic connections.
At Thursday’s announcement, Mayor Ron Nirenberg told the audience, “We have arrived on the world stage.”
We understand the sentiment, and yet San Antonio “arrived” long ago.
San Antonio is one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. It is a diverse and youthful city, a national leader in cybersecurity, and home to a number of universities, two medical schools and a large military presence. A nonstop connection to Frankfurt reflects the reality and promise of our market.
The challenge now will be to expand that international foothold while continuing to enhance South Texas’ largest air hub. Earlier this year, Nirenberg told the Editorial Board the city remains focused on transforming the airport from an “Achilles’ heel for the city’s economy to one that is a strength.”
Other metro areas the size of San Antonio, as well as many smaller markets, have multiple daily flights to Europe that run throughout the year. The reasons vary, and they include each area’s demand, demographics, workforce, geography, infrastructure, business climate and proximity to other airports. San Antonio faces a unique headwind due to its proximity to Houston and Dallas.
City leaders can’t change geography, but they must stay proactive on the issues they can influence. Clearly, there is market share to be gained — just look at the number of San Antonians who choose to fly from Austin.
In the two-year deal with Condor, the city pledged “$1.5 million in fee waivers and marketing grants,” along with Greater: SATX and Visit San Antonio’s agreement to pay the airline if passenger numbers are lower as a hedge against losses.
This is a small price to pay when considering how the deal raises the city’s profile, creates travel and business opportunities, and may lead to more destinations, international and domestic.
The flights to Frankfurt will boost leisure travel on both sides of the Atlantic. However, business travelers won’t be able to depend on the service outside of the May-september season.
Now it’s up to San Antonio and Frankfurt-area travelers. If people prove the concept and maintain demand, San Antonio’s airline and destination list may grow.
That’ll be good for the new terminal building expected to open in 2028. The 832,500-square-foot facility will add 17 gates, extra concession and club space, at least eight more security screening lanes and a larger federal inspection station area.
City Manager Erik Walsh has called the expansion “the biggest capital project the city’s ever undertaken.”
Now, let’s focus on landing direct flights to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C., and New York City’s Laguardia Airport.
Agreement a step forward in a long journey for city’s airport