Increase In International Flights Prompts Early Start On New Terminal

With a surge in new international nonstop service to San Diego International Airport, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority is stepping up the $229.4M remodeling and expansion of Terminal 2 to accommodate a federal inspection for passport and customs control, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Originally scheduled for 10 years off, the project broke ground Wednesday.

The terminal expansion is being financed with $149M in revenue bonds, $40M generated by a $4.50/person passenger facility charge and $40M in cash.

British Airways and Japan Airlines already offer nonstop service from London Heathrow Airport and Tokyo seven days a week, but Germany’s Condor Airlines; Switzerland’s Edelweiss, a Lufthansa group carrier; and Canada’s Air Canada Rouge and WestJet are adding flights to SAN.

Designed to accommodate a broader range of aircraft, Gates 47-51 at the western end of Terminal 2 will replace Gates 20-22 to service foreign airliners when completed in 2019. The expansion will create new stairways, escalators and elevators designated for the exclusive use of international passengers to access the automated passport control area on the third floor. Passengers will also pick up luggage at a designated ground-level baggage claim area and go through the customs process before exiting the terminal or continuing to connecting flights.

The project, designed by Gensler and built by a partnership of Turner Construction and PCL Construction, will add 35K SF for the new federal inspection station. An additional 100K SF will be remodeled and reconfigured for installation of stairs, escalators and elevators, add concessions and airline club spaces and create space for new airline administrative offices on the third floor.

The first phase, to be completed next year, will provide four reconfigured international gates, with the last two opening in 2019. The expansion’s completion will coincide with the opening of a new parking garage.