If you’ve ever flown through San Diego on Southwest Airlines, you’ve experienced the infamous Terminal 1, one of the least inviting terminals in the country. Its two concourses each suffer from insufficient seating, poor food options, and no lounges. Each concourse, with its five gates, requires passing through a TSA security checkpoint to get to the other, making connections particularly difficult.
The good news is that the current terminal 1 is being replaced by a brand new one that’s now under construction and will open in the middle of next year.
As a local resident I’ve been following the construction of the new Terminal 1. It’s a massive undertaking that will open with 19 gates, and after the old Terminal 1 is demolished, the new Terminal 1 will be extended, adding 11 more gates.
San Diego Airport has two terminals, 1 and 2. Terminal 2 was built 11 years ago with 32 gates and plenty of restaurants, shops and three lounges.
Even with the expansion, San Diego will still just have its single 9400 foot runway, the third busiest in the world after Mumbai and Gatwick, and the busiest in the U.S., conveniently located a few minute drive from central downtown.
Every time I fly into in San Diego, I’m reminded of my many trips into Hong Kong’s old Kai Tak Airport. Both have approaches that take you alongside the city’s high rise buildings. In Hong Kong, it’s so close you could look into the windows of the apartment houses. It’s not as precarious in San Diego, but you do get a great view of many high rise buildings, Petco Park, San Diego Bay, and the Coronado Bridge.
The new terminal is a long straight building paralleling the bay with gates running along the back facing the runway. It reminds me of the layouts of the Orange County and Ontario California airports.
A new roadway is being constructed to bypass the coast highway, leading to two levels for departures and arrivals. Adjacent to the roadway is a massive parking garage with 200 EV spaces. Half of the garage just opened for $38/day parking.
Noticeably lacking as part this $3.8 billion construction project is a train or trolly to take you to downtown, just a mile away. That would be particularly useful for those connecting with Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner or the local Coaster commuter railroad.
With the completion of the new terminal, visitors will finally be treated to an airport that’s fitting for one of the country’s best tourist destinations.
Sure, a new terminal is nice, but the runway will always be too short, and the rapid descent after passing through (not above) downtown reflects how desperate pilot has to be to get on that runway and use every meter.