San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
History, Facts and Overview
(San Antonio, Texas - TX, USA)
A large plot of land destined to become an airport was acquired by the city of San Antonio in 1941, covering some 1,200 acres / 485 hectares. In 1944 the airfield was officially named as the San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and regular flights began. A number of renovations and upgrades were carried out during the early fifties, including the construction of a new terminal in 1953 (which became Terminal 2), and both the east and west wings in 1959.
A large expansion project took place during the latter part of the 1960s, when gates were added in a 'banjo' design, to accommodate the high passenger numbers expected at the airport for the forthcoming World's Fair (HemisFair), which took place between April and October in 1968.
The current Terminal 1 was built in 1984 and handles around 60 percent of all the traffic at San Antonio Airport. While Terminal 2 remains in operation today, it is scheduled to be replaced by the end of 2009. San Antonio International Airport now covers more than 2,600 acres / 1,050 hectares.
Many amenities can be found within San Antonio Airport, with banks and currency exchange outlets allowing you to obtain US dollars with ease. Various restaurants are located onsite and in both terminals, being clustered around food court areas. Popular airport eateries include the Alamo City Microbrewery, Cinnabon, Famous Famiglia, Las Palapas, Native Texan, Quizno's Subs and Starbucks.
For shoppers, a range of stores are never far away, with favorites such as Alamo Extra News-stands, Landing Gear, Simply Books and Stars of San Antonio, the perfect place to find that illusive holiday souvenir. San Antonio Airport is also home to the Never 2 Late Business Center, where you can freely surf the Internet and reply to any important emails.