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  #881  
Old Posted Nov 3, 2015, 2:35 PM
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Cisneros now pessimistic that Austin, San Antonio can share an airport
W. Scott Bailey
San Antonio Business Journal
Oct 29, 2015, 1:34pm CDT
http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/ne...n-antonio.html

Quote:
San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Chairman Henry Cisneros has arguably been one of the strongest proponents for a regional airport that could better serve the Alamo City, Austin and other communities in the region. But as competition for flights and passengers intensifies, and as real estate values along I-35 escalate, Cisneros laments that serious talks about a regional airport could be grounded in favor of less expensive — and perhaps less visionary — alternatives.
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  #882  
Old Posted Nov 3, 2015, 2:49 PM
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City to Consider Paying Airlines to Add Non Stop Flights
no author posted
Posted Tuesday, November 3rd 2015 @ 7am
http://www.woai.com/articles/woai-lo...s-to-14089804/

Quote:
San Antonio City Council today will get its first look at an innovative plan designed to attract new non stop flights in and out of San Antonio International Airport by paying airlines to provide the service, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.

The proposal calls for 'marketing incentives' of up to $100,000 to 'any carrier that begins on stop departures on an unserved route provided the service level is a minimum of 365 scheduled departures during the incentivized 12 months period,' according to the proposal on the table.

Read more: http://www.woai.com/articles/woai-lo...#ixzz3qRKjkCy3
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  #883  
Old Posted Nov 3, 2015, 2:57 PM
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Historic Stinson airport looking ahead
By Lynn Brezosky
San Antonio Express News
October 23, 2015 Updated: October 23, 2015 7:46pm
http://www.expressnews.com/business/...ad-6587623.php

Quote:
In September 2013, Stinson had 2,668 takeoffs and landings. In September 2014, there were 2,764. In September 2015, there were 3,094. Air taxi (chartering airplanes to get from point to point) traffic is particularly hot, going from 10 operations in September 2013 to 305 in September 2015.

It’s a reversal of the downward trend at the San Antonio International Airport, which saw operations dip from 14,244 in September 2013 to 13,529 operations in September 2015, aviation analyst Brian Foley said.

“You’re bucking the trend from SAT,” he said, referring to San Antonio International Airport. “Just looking at it, general aviation is the primary driver.”
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  #884  
Old Posted Nov 3, 2015, 3:19 PM
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The conversation needs to be where in the hell they are going to relocate the airport to.... Runways aren't long enough, Expansion space is limited, noise restrictions are limiting.... the list goes on. The new terminal is pretty, but its time SA turns its eyes east or south to open pastures and starts charting its own course.
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  #885  
Old Posted Nov 5, 2015, 4:34 PM
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[QUOTE=Fireoutofclay;7221009]Cisneros now pessimistic that Austin, San Antonio can share an airport
W. Scott Bailey
San Antonio Business Journal
Oct 29, 2015, 1:34pm CDT
http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/ne...n-antonio.html


Does anyone really think citizens of Austin will go for closing their perfectly good airport with perfectly good long runways to drive to New Braunfels just to make us in San Antonio happy? Why not put a new airport say somewhere in the area of Kyle or north San Marcos and ask us to close SAT and drive. Mr. Cisneros blew it back in the 80's - 90's when a regional airport was an option and we were operating from a side of strength as the big dog when Austin came calling. Now we have become eclipsed. They built the big expandable airport with long runways capable of (and getting) trans-oceanic flights and we are the ones commissioning biased reports and us showing up with hat in hand wanting to convince Austin to do something very stupid just for us (San Antonio). We need to do something smart and drop this idea of a regional airport and build a big nice expandable terminal at the old Kelly AFB far away from AUS.
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  #886  
Old Posted Nov 13, 2015, 1:02 AM
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[QUOTE=Tyrone Shoes;7224389]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fireoutofclay View Post
Cisneros now pessimistic that Austin, San Antonio can share an airport
W. Scott Bailey
San Antonio Business Journal
Oct 29, 2015, 1:34pm CDT
http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/ne...n-antonio.html


Does anyone really think citizens of Austin will go for closing their perfectly good airport with perfectly good long runways to drive to New Braunfels just to make us in San Antonio happy? Why not put a new airport say somewhere in the area of Kyle or north San Marcos and ask us to close SAT and drive. Mr. Cisneros blew it back in the 80's - 90's when a regional airport was an option and we were operating from a side of strength as the big dog when Austin came calling. Now we have become eclipsed. They built the big expandable airport with long runways capable of (and getting) trans-oceanic flights and we are the ones commissioning biased reports and us showing up with hat in hand wanting to convince Austin to do something very stupid just for us (San Antonio). We need to do something smart and drop this idea of a regional airport and build a big nice expandable terminal at the old Kelly AFB far away from AUS.
When did Austin approach S.A. about building a regional airport in the 1980s or 90's? The regional population wasn't large enough back then for such an airport but it makes more sense now to plan for the additional millions of people moving to the corridor.

Austin is doing fine with the airport it has but it can't turn its cheek to the idea because of the anticipated population growth and the need for much better air service a regional airport would attract. A regional airport serving an area of 5 million people built at the center of the region between New Braunfels and San Marcos would be ideal.

If that doesn't work then S.A. should build a large airport off I-35 at Hwy 46 in New Braunfels with close access to Texas 130 and Seguin, the Randolph metrocom cities; Shertz, Cibolo, Universal city, Live Oak, Selma are very fast growing suburbs. Maybe attract a carrier and establish a hub.

This area is still close enough to S.A. proper and NE suburbs. I think this area would work better than the NW I-10 corridor. S.A. definitely needs to do something we have outgrown SAT and things wont really take off as far as better air service and more economic opportunity for S.A. if we don't do something about this problem.

San Antonio is the birthplace of military aviation a city with a storied history in aviation, there is no way in hell we should take a back seat and just live with the problem!
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Last edited by Paul in S.A TX; Nov 13, 2015 at 1:39 AM.
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  #887  
Old Posted Nov 13, 2015, 2:09 AM
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  #888  
Old Posted Nov 13, 2015, 3:23 PM
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San Antonio leaders hopeful new airport incentive cash will attract more nonstop flights

W. Scott Bailey
San Antonio Business Journal
Nov 12, 2015, 3:27pm CST Updated Nov 12, 2015, 4:39pm CST
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantoni...incentive.html

Quote:
Local leaders seeking to recruit more nonstop flights to and from San Antonio International Airport may have more ammunition at their disposal.

City Council approved on Thursday a new Air Service Incentive Development program and that will be used to improve San Antonio’s air connectivity. The vote will free up $600,000 in incentive money in fiscal 2016 that San Antonio can use to attract more flights.
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  #889  
Old Posted Nov 13, 2015, 6:59 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul in S.A TX View Post
Austin is doing fine with the airport it has but it can't turn its cheek to the idea because of the anticipated population growth and the need for much better air service a regional airport would attract. A regional airport serving an area of 5 million people built at the center of the region between New Braunfels and San Marcos would be ideal.

Yes they absolutely can. The two city centers are 80 miles apart. Even if you place the "Regional" airport exactly in-between the two, how do you propose those passengers who need to get to a city center traverse the 40 miles? Please do not tell me high-speed rail...that will add another few billion to the overall price tag.

Both San Antonio and Austin's metro areas are expected to have some 3.2 million each by 2030 (about the size of San Diego's metro area today). As much as one would like to call this a "region" or a new "metroplex," it really is not. Again, the two city centers are 80 miles apart. Dallas is less than half that distance from Ft. Worth. DFW airport, built in the early 1970's, is 17 miles from both downtown Dallas and downtown Ft. Worth.

Austin has a great airport on about 4,200 acres of land. The airport can be expanded to encompass more than 120 gates and over 60 million passengers per year. Why on God's great earth would they ever think about shutting it down to spend billions on a "regional" airport? Bonds would have to be issued and Austin voters would never approve such a measure.

Furthermore, "regional" airports are a thing of the past. It is an outdated concept. And especially so if one is proposing to build such a facility 40 miles from city centers.




Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul in S.A TX View Post
If that doesn't work then S.A. should build a large airport off I-35 at Hwy 46 in New Braunfels with close access to Texas 130 and Seguin, the Randolph metrocom cities; Shertz, Cibolo, Universal city, Live Oak, Selma are very fast growing suburbs. Maybe attract a carrier and establish a hub.

San Antonio needs to do what it can to emulate what Austin did and try to utilize one of the air bases with suitable size (land) and runways. Building a completely new airport from the ground up is cost prohibitive.

Additionally, there is not a single airline (U.S.-based) developing new hubs. In fact, they are still eliminating them. And don't hold your breath for an airline to transfer one of its current hubs to SAT...you will run out of oxygen.




Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul in S.A TX View Post
S.A. definitely needs to do something we have outgrown SAT and things wont really take off as far as better air service and more economic opportunity for S.A. if we don't do something about this problem.

I would agree that SA needs to do something. But, come on..."outgrown SAT?" Really?

I believe there are at least two gates which are not being utilized right now (A1 & A16), correct? The current master plan still shows the construction of additional gates, correct? At just under 8.5 million passengers per year (2015 estimate), there is plenty of room to grow within the current facility (let alone future planned expansions).

The city, on its own, cannot lure enough direct flights to satisfy its perceived need. Businesses must take charge and prove to airlines why new routes would be economically viable to-and-from SAT, as they have done in Austin.




Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul in S.A TX View Post
San Antonio is the birthplace of military aviation a city with a storied history in aviation, there is no way in hell we should take a back seat and just live with the problem!

Who is taking a back seat? San Antonio has simply not worked hard enough to lure more flights (City and businesses). And even if they did, there is no guarantee that they would come. Routes are driven by economics and only economics.

Also, San Antonio needs to deal with its own problems and not ask another city to solve them for us.

Last edited by ILUVSAT; Nov 13, 2015 at 7:09 PM.
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  #890  
Old Posted Nov 13, 2015, 7:00 PM
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http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantoni...ity-under.html

This proposal is WAY better that the street car...
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  #891  
Old Posted Nov 14, 2015, 3:38 AM
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Originally Posted by ILUVSAT View Post
Yes they absolutely can. The two city centers are 80 miles apart. Even if you place the "Regional" airport exactly in-between the two, how do you propose those passengers who need to get to a city center traverse the 40 miles? Please do not tell me high-speed rail...that will add another few billion to the overall price tag.

Both San Antonio and Austin's metro areas are expected to have some 3.2 million each by 2030 (about the size of San Diego's metro area today). As much as one would like to call this a "region" or a new "metroplex," it really is not. Again, the two city centers are 80 miles apart. Dallas is less than half that distance from Ft. Worth. DFW airport, built in the early 1970's, is 17 miles from both downtown Dallas and downtown Ft. Worth.

Austin has a great airport on about 4,200 acres of land. The airport can be expanded to encompass more than 120 gates and over 60 million passengers per year. Why on God's great earth would they ever think about shutting it down to spend billions on a "regional" airport? Bonds would have to be issued and Austin voters would never approve such a measure.

Furthermore, "regional" airports are a thing of the past. It is an outdated concept. And especially so if one is proposing to build such a facility 40 miles from city centers.







San Antonio needs to do what it can to emulate what Austin did and try to utilize one of the air bases with suitable size (land) and runways. Building a completely new airport from the ground up is cost prohibitive.

Additionally, there is not a single airline (U.S.-based) developing new hubs. In fact, they are still eliminating them. And don't hold your breath for an airline to transfer one of its current hubs to SAT...you will run out of oxygen.







I would agree that SA needs to do something. But, come on..."outgrown SAT?" Really?

I believe there are at least two gates which are not being utilized right now (A1 & A16), correct? The current master plan still shows the construction of additional gates, correct? At just under 8.5 million passengers per year (2015 estimate), there is plenty of room to grow within the current facility (let alone future planned expansions).

The city, on its own, cannot lure enough direct flights to satisfy its perceived need. Businesses must take charge and prove to airlines why new routes would be economically viable to-and-from SAT, as they have done in Austin.







Who is taking a back seat? San Antonio has simply not worked hard enough to lure more flights (City and businesses). And even if they did, there is no guarantee that they would come. Routes are driven by economics and only economics.

Also, San Antonio needs to deal with its own problems and not ask another city to solve them for us.


The downtowns are 74 miles apart and the suburbs of each city are even much closer, with two growing cities in between.

Why do you say regional airports are no longer being built?

If that's not an option the city should consider building a large hub airport somewhere in the metro. There are smaller metros than San Antonio that have large sized hub airports that have a smaller population and economy. San Antonio may be losing out on economic opportunities because of its airport.

Kelly AFB would have been a good option if it were available but new airports are being built all over the world and not only if an existing airfield is available.

The city creating an incentive program to secure more flights will be helpful but it is just slapping a band aid on the problem, the airport is landlocked and just not big enough for a metro the size of San Antonio.

A new airport will have to be taken seriously now or in the near future and it is great that city officials are considering such a project.
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  #892  
Old Posted Nov 17, 2015, 7:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Paul in S.A TX View Post
The downtowns are 74 miles apart and the suburbs of each city are even much closer, with two growing cities in between.

Why do you say regional airports are no longer being built?

If that's not an option the city should consider building a large hub airport somewhere in the metro. There are smaller metros than San Antonio that have large sized hub airports that have a smaller population and economy. San Antonio may be losing out on economic opportunities because of its airport.

Kelly AFB would have been a good option if it were available but new airports are being built all over the world and not only if an existing airfield is available.

The city creating an incentive program to secure more flights will be helpful but it is just slapping a band aid on the problem, the airport is landlocked and just not big enough for a metro the size of San Antonio.

A new airport will have to be taken seriously now or in the near future and it is great that city officials are considering such a project.

Paul, I appreciate your contribution to this forum. But, dude, your homerism is, indeed, clouding reality and your better judgment. Please, just sit back, take a deep breath and think all of this through...



- 74, 75, 78, 80; the 6-mile difference in miles apart is negligible and inconsequential to the overall status of this part argument. Should a regional airport be placed exactly between San Antonio and Austin, it would still be more than twice the distance from a city center than DFW is from central Dallas & central Ft. Worth.

And, let’s be fair to the other cities occupying space between SA and Austin - there are more than “two growing” cities between San Antonio and Austin. New Braunfels and San Marcos are just the two largest…for now.



- Yes, major “regional” airports are no longer being built. In fact, I don’t think one has been built (in at least North America) in the past 25-30+ years.



- City size does not exactly correlate to the size of its airport. It never has. Regarding those cities you suggest that are smaller in both size and economy (when compared to SA) that have larger/busier airports - can you provide us with some examples?



- Should SA be “losing out” on economic opportunities, San Antonio International Airport is definitely not the sole cause of the problem! It might be the last excuse for some to go elsewhere, but it is not the overriding problem.



- Kelly’s not available? Is the city not trying to develop Port San Antonio there? Is there not a runway available to businesses associated/located at Port San Antonio? Why can’t the city find some creative way to develop the roughly 2,000 acres in conjunction with a new airport facility?

We, as a community, are going to have to think outside the box when the time comes to developing a new airport for San Antonio. One cannot simply point at a map and say: “Let’s put it there.” It’s never that simple. Take a look at the situation in San Diego. They actually do need a new airport and they have moved forward with that plan very little in over the past 15-20 years. It’s not easy!

Residents may want easy access to an airport, but, I can assure you they do not want to live next to one. Included among the many reasons why, it will dilute the value of residential property. So, building a new SAT northeast of San Antonio (along or near I-35) will never happen. People will vote against it in a heartbeat. However, we may have something to discuss should the Feds shutter Randolph in the future.

Should SA develop a new airport, do not expect our airfares to decrease. More than likely, they will increase, as the cost for construction is passed down to the passenger (you gotta pay those bonds off). And don’t expect new routes to materialize just because you have a shinny new terminal either.



- Yes, one does not require existing runways in determining where to place a new airport. However, depending on how many runways are at said site, it could cut the overall construction cost by at least hundreds of millions of dollars. A municipality would only have to refurbish existing runways instead of fabricating new ones. And, depending on the site conditions, I believe it costs somewhere between $200-$500/SF for construction of a new runway (ATL just built one which cost ~$1.3B…an exception to the norm, but, still).



- Outside of Asia and the UAE, very few new, major airports are being developed today. And regarding those airports in Asia and the UAE, their “Federal” governments are heavily supplying funds for construction. FAR more so than here in the U.S., where the Feds will fund less than 33% of the total cost (in most cases - and, only if you are lucky). Municipalities (local governments – normally via bond issuances) and airlines must come up with remaining funds for construction. You cannot assume that if it is happening in Asia and the UAE then it will, or even can, happen here. That is just not the case.



- I doubt the city’s current incentive program will do much to improve air service or promote new routes. It is a measly total of $600,000 budgeted for the entire fiscal 2016 year. I totally agree with you…this is a tiny little band aid.

However, again, you cannot equate a city’s size to how big their airport “should” be. SAT is plenty big enough for what we need for now. The airport’s master plan has the addition of more gates. And, with (or without) eminent domain, SAT could acquire the necessary land needed to extend one or more of its runways. The problem is not the size of the airport; it is the passenger cost to fly out of it and the perceived lack of direct flights.



- City officials are not considering a new airport. They wanted Austin to help pay for a new San Antonio airport (and call it a “regional” airport)…that is it – no more, no less. And Austin, as almost any intelligent city would, saw right through the B.S. There is no “need” for a new San Antonio International Airport. SAT is NOT currently bursting at its seems.
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  #893  
Old Posted Nov 18, 2015, 9:54 PM
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Very well put. Couldn't agree more.
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  #894  
Old Posted Nov 18, 2015, 10:29 PM
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Originally Posted by ILUVSAT View Post

- Kelly’s not available? Is the city not trying to develop Port San Antonio there? Is there not a runway available to businesses associated/located at Port San Antonio? Why can’t the city find some creative way to develop the roughly 2,000 acres in conjunction with a new airport facility?
Doesn't Lackland still use that runway? I agree that would be a great relocation option, but I don't think the Air Force is willing to share.
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  #895  
Old Posted Nov 19, 2015, 5:47 AM
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Doesn't Lackland still use that runway? I agree that would be a great relocation option, but I don't think the Air Force is willing to share.
Yes Lackland still uses the runway, but that would be a non issue. The Base I was previously "Charleston AFB" was joint military/civil and we had a no issues. Even with a much larger ops tempo than Lackland.
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  #896  
Old Posted Nov 20, 2015, 5:52 AM
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Originally Posted by ILUVSAT View Post
Paul, I appreciate your contribution to this forum. But, dude, your homerism is, indeed, clouding reality and your better judgment. Please, just sit back, take a deep breath and think all of this through...



- 74, 75, 78, 80; the 6-mile difference in miles apart is negligible and inconsequential to the overall status of this part argument. Should a regional airport be placed exactly between San Antonio and Austin, it would still be more than twice the distance from a city center than DFW is from central Dallas & central Ft. Worth.

And, let’s be fair to the other cities occupying space between SA and Austin - there are more than “two growing” cities between San Antonio and Austin. New Braunfels and San Marcos are just the two largest…for now.



- Yes, major “regional” airports are no longer being built. In fact, I don’t think one has been built (in at least North America) in the past 25-30+ years.



- City size does not exactly correlate to the size of its airport. It never has. Regarding those cities you suggest that are smaller in both size and economy (when compared to SA) that have larger/busier airports - can you provide us with some examples?



- Should SA be “losing out” on economic opportunities, San Antonio International Airport is definitely not the sole cause of the problem! It might be the last excuse for some to go elsewhere, but it is not the overriding problem.



- Kelly’s not available? Is the city not trying to develop Port San Antonio there? Is there not a runway available to businesses associated/located at Port San Antonio? Why can’t the city find some creative way to develop the roughly 2,000 acres in conjunction with a new airport facility?

We, as a community, are going to have to think outside the box when the time comes to developing a new airport for San Antonio. One cannot simply point at a map and say: “Let’s put it there.” It’s never that simple. Take a look at the situation in San Diego. They actually do need a new airport and they have moved forward with that plan very little in over the past 15-20 years. It’s not easy!

Residents may want easy access to an airport, but, I can assure you they do not want to live next to one. Included among the many reasons why, it will dilute the value of residential property. So, building a new SAT northeast of San Antonio (along or near I-35) will never happen. People will vote against it in a heartbeat. However, we may have something to discuss should the Feds shutter Randolph in the future.

Should SA develop a new airport, do not expect our airfares to decrease. More than likely, they will increase, as the cost for construction is passed down to the passenger (you gotta pay those bonds off). And don’t expect new routes to materialize just because you have a shinny new terminal either.



- Yes, one does not require existing runways in determining where to place a new airport. However, depending on how many runways are at said site, it could cut the overall construction cost by at least hundreds of millions of dollars. A municipality would only have to refurbish existing runways instead of fabricating new ones. And, depending on the site conditions, I believe it costs somewhere between $200-$500/SF for construction of a new runway (ATL just built one which cost ~$1.3B…an exception to the norm, but, still).



- Outside of Asia and the UAE, very few new, major airports are being developed today. And regarding those airports in Asia and the UAE, their “Federal” governments are heavily supplying funds for construction. FAR more so than here in the U.S., where the Feds will fund less than 33% of the total cost (in most cases - and, only if you are lucky). Municipalities (local governments – normally via bond issuances) and airlines must come up with remaining funds for construction. You cannot assume that if it is happening in Asia and the UAE then it will, or even can, happen here. That is just not the case.



- I doubt the city’s current incentive program will do much to improve air service or promote new routes. It is a measly total of $600,000 budgeted for the entire fiscal 2016 year. I totally agree with you…this is a tiny little band aid.

However, again, you cannot equate a city’s size to how big their airport “should” be. SAT is plenty big enough for what we need for now. The airport’s master plan has the addition of more gates. And, with (or without) eminent domain, SAT could acquire the necessary land needed to extend one or more of its runways. The problem is not the size of the airport; it is the passenger cost to fly out of it and the perceived lack of direct flights.



- City officials are not considering a new airport. They wanted Austin to help pay for a new San Antonio airport (and call it a “regional” airport)…that is it – no more, no less. And Austin, as almost any intelligent city would, saw right through the B.S. There is no “need” for a new San Antonio International Airport. SAT is NOT currently bursting at its seems.



If city officials are looking at a regional airport it just means that they are looking to expand air service to its fullest for this great city that deserves better. SAT is too small for a city this size, smaller cities like Salt Lake and Charlotte have multiple times the passenger counts and you can't say that it is all driven by air travel demand in their city or their big local economies. Most of those passengers do not step foot in those cities. They are major hubs and that's mostly where the high passenger numbers come from and better air service to so many more destinations.

I'm not saying SAT needs to become a gigantic hub airport but we certainly have to do something the city will eventually double in size.

ABIA has room to grow exponentially and SAT doesn't thus the need of a bigger airport.
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2020 S. A. Pop 1.59 million/ Metro 2.64 million/ASA corridor 5 million Census undercount city proper. San Antonio economy and largest economic sectors. Annual contribution towards GDP. U.S. DOD$48.5billion/Manufacturing $40.5 billion/Healthcare-Biosciences $40 billion/Finance-Insurance $20 billion/Tourism $15 billion/ Technology $10 billion. S.A./ Austin: Tech $25 billion/Manufacturing $11 billion/ Tourism $9 billion.

Last edited by Paul in S.A TX; Nov 20, 2015 at 6:10 AM.
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  #897  
Old Posted Nov 20, 2015, 11:02 PM
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ILUVSAT ILUVSAT is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul in S.A TX View Post
If city officials are looking at a regional airport it just means that they are looking to expand air service to its fullest for this great city that deserves better. SAT is too small for a city this size, smaller cities like Salt Lake and Charlotte have multiple times the passenger counts and you can't say that it is all driven by air travel demand in their city or their big local economies. Most of those passengers do not step foot in those cities. They are major hubs and that's mostly where the high passenger numbers come from and better air service to so many more destinations.

I'm not saying SAT needs to become a gigantic hub airport but we certainly have to do something the city will eventually double in size.

ABIA has room to grow exponentially and SAT doesn't thus the need of a bigger airport.
Paul, I believe it would be safe to assume that your love for San Antonio is equivalent to mine. However, your love has blinded you and caused you to become immeasurably delusional…to a point where it is actually extremely chilling.


San Antonio city leaders are no longer exploring the idea of a regional airport. Why would they? We cannot get one built if Austin doesn’t JV with us. Period! And they are not going to (and rightfully so).

Paul, what do you mean by this city “deserves better?” This seems to be more about what you want rather than what the city actually needs.

Has not the city spent several tens of millions on recent upgrades and enhancements to our terminals? Have they not just commenced construction on a ~$170 million consolidated rental car facility? The city “deserves” nothing. It does what it can with the money available with which to do it. SAT is an O&D airport, plain and simple. We will NEVER be a hub. Never!

Please stop worrying about what other cities have and start worrying about what we really need. Just because Austin got lucky and landed the old Bergstrom base at the same time they were in the process of acquiring land for a new airport does not mean San Antonio needs to dump the current SAT for a larger one when it is not warranted. There are more important challenges facing San Antonio than new routes, cheaper airfares, and your bigger airport argument.

Geez, you sound like: “Hey mom, not fair! Little Johnny got the bigger slice of pie. I want a bigger one too. Right now, now, now…” as you slam your fists on the table.

And for the love of God…city size DOES NOT precisely correlate to the size of its airport!!! Please…just stop trying to fit this square peg into that round hole.

Regarding Salt Lake and Charlotte, both of their metro area populations are comparable to that of San Antonio. Additionally, SLC and CLT are, and have been for decades, major hubs for Delta and U.S. Airways (and their precursors), respectively. In fact, both SLC and CLT officially became major hubs in 1978, after airline deregulation.

And yes, I can say that those airports ARE assisted by the economic vitality of their respective regions. It just so happens that both the Salt Lake and the Charlotte regions have experienced tremendous economic growth over the past 10+ years. But, again, to be fair, it is their hub status that has driven most of SLC’s and CLT’s growth over time. And as stated several times before, SAT will never be a hub.

New hubs are NOT being developed here in the U.S. As our legacy airlines have settled into their own and are finalizing the phase-out of their smaller hubs.

Even if, by an act of God, San Antonio finds the funds to build an Al Maktoum-sized airport, you would not see traffic or route numbers increase exponentially, if much at all, from where they are today. The “if you built it and they will come” mentality does not work in the airline industry – at least here in the U.S. The one thing I can promise you, with a new airport, you will see airfares increase from where they are today.

The city identified two glaring “issues” with SAT; 1) the perceived “need” for more/new routes, and 2) reducing the consumers’/passengers’ cost of using the airport.

Question: How will spending billions in constructing a brand new airport guarantee the solution to either one of the aforementioned “issues?”

Answer: That’s simple…It doesn’t.

City leaders are going to have to work harder and in conjunction with business stakeholders to prove to airlines that more of a certain route – or a new route completely – is going to be both sustainable and economically viable for said airline. And do this while continuing to enhance the current SAT.
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  #898  
Old Posted Nov 20, 2015, 11:20 PM
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And...drop the mic.




In all seriousness, I agree with your assessment, ILUV.
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AUSTIN (City): 974,447 +1.30% - '20-'22 | AUSTIN MSA (5 counties): 2,421,115 +6.03% - '20-'22
SAN ANTONIO (City): 1,472,909 +2.69% - '20-'22 | SAN ANTONIO MSA (8 counties): 2,655,342 +3.80% - '20-'22
AUS-SAT REGION (MSAs/13 counties): 5,076,457 +4.85% - '20-'22 | *SRC: US Census*
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  #899  
Old Posted Nov 21, 2015, 8:26 AM
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Paul in S.A TX Paul in S.A TX is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ILUVSAT View Post
Paul, I believe it would be safe to assume that your love for San Antonio is equivalent to mine. However, your love has blinded you and caused you to become immeasurably delusional…to a point where it is actually extremely chilling.


San Antonio city leaders are no longer exploring the idea of a regional airport. Why would they? We cannot get one built if Austin doesn’t JV with us. Period! And they are not going to (and rightfully so).

Paul, what do you mean by this city “deserves better?” This seems to be more about what you want rather than what the city actually needs.

Has not the city spent several tens of millions on recent upgrades and enhancements to our terminals? Have they not just commenced construction on a ~$170 million consolidated rental car facility? The city “deserves” nothing. It does what it can with the money available with which to do it. SAT is an O&D airport, plain and simple. We will NEVER be a hub. Never!

Please stop worrying about what other cities have and start worrying about what we really need. Just because Austin got lucky and landed the old Bergstrom base at the same time they were in the process of acquiring land for a new airport does not mean San Antonio needs to dump the current SAT for a larger one when it is not warranted. There are more important challenges facing San Antonio than new routes, cheaper airfares, and your bigger airport argument.

Geez, you sound like: “Hey mom, not fair! Little Johnny got the bigger slice of pie. I want a bigger one too. Right now, now, now…” as you slam your fists on the table.

And for the love of God…city size DOES NOT precisely correlate to the size of its airport!!! Please…just stop trying to fit this square peg into that round hole.

Regarding Salt Lake and Charlotte, both of their metro area populations are comparable to that of San Antonio. Additionally, SLC and CLT are, and have been for decades, major hubs for Delta and U.S. Airways (and their precursors), respectively. In fact, both SLC and CLT officially became major hubs in 1978, after airline deregulation.

And yes, I can say that those airports ARE assisted by the economic vitality of their respective regions. It just so happens that both the Salt Lake and the Charlotte regions have experienced tremendous economic growth over the past 10+ years. But, again, to be fair, it is their hub status that has driven most of SLC’s and CLT’s growth over time. And as stated several times before, SAT will never be a hub.

New hubs are NOT being developed here in the U.S. As our legacy airlines have settled into their own and are finalizing the phase-out of their smaller hubs.

Even if, by an act of God, San Antonio finds the funds to build an Al Maktoum-sized airport, you would not see traffic or route numbers increase exponentially, if much at all, from where they are today. The “if you built it and they will come” mentality does not work in the airline industry – at least here in the U.S. The one thing I can promise you, with a new airport, you will see airfares increase from where they are today.

The city identified two glaring “issues” with SAT; 1) the perceived “need” for more/new routes, and 2) reducing the consumers’/passengers’ cost of using the airport.

Question: How will spending billions in constructing a brand new airport guarantee the solution to either one of the aforementioned “issues?”

Answer: That’s simple…It doesn’t.

City leaders are going to have to work harder and in conjunction with business stakeholders to prove to airlines that more of a certain route – or a new route completely – is going to be both sustainable and economically viable for said airline. And do this while continuing to enhance the current SAT.


Charlotte is about the same size but not the Salt Lake City metro.

Are you saying that S.A. has not grown economically over the past 10 years? Salt Lake is smaller in every aspect.

I doubt a regional airport will ever be built as well but a new airport may need to be built, or a major expansion of some sort if feasible, or relocation in the next decade or so. Especially if S.A. metro residents are turning to ABIA. S.A. should emulate Austin's success or any other city that has overcome the problem S.A. is facing.

Every city should have an interest in having better connectivity with the rest of the world, S.A. is no different, it is an emerging city located in one of the fastest growing regions in America.

The city definitely needs to improve the quality of air service for its residents and the additional million people projected to move here over the next 20 years.

S.A. also needs to address that lack of any type of Mass transit other than bus service.

I was born on the Riverwalk I love my city call me a homer all you want it don't bother me. I can't wait for the new Frost tower.
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2020 S. A. Pop 1.59 million/ Metro 2.64 million/ASA corridor 5 million Census undercount city proper. San Antonio economy and largest economic sectors. Annual contribution towards GDP. U.S. DOD$48.5billion/Manufacturing $40.5 billion/Healthcare-Biosciences $40 billion/Finance-Insurance $20 billion/Tourism $15 billion/ Technology $10 billion. S.A./ Austin: Tech $25 billion/Manufacturing $11 billion/ Tourism $9 billion.

Last edited by Paul in S.A TX; Nov 21, 2015 at 8:55 AM.
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  #900  
Old Posted Dec 16, 2015, 7:04 PM
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Fireoutofclay Fireoutofclay is offline
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Year in Review: Airport changes needed for SA economy to take flight
W. Scott Bailey
San Antonio Business Journal
Dec 15, 2015, 4:45pm CST
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantoni...ed-for-sa.html

Quote:
SAT served 7.1 million passengers in January through October of this year. That’s a slight bump over the 10-month total in 2014.

Unlike Austin’s situation, San Antonio’s airport is essentially landlocked. Still, City Manager Sheryl Sculley said San Antonio is investing more than $220 million in new airport improvements in an effort to keep pace with the competition.

“When we look back at 2015, what I see is a year when we really engaged in pretty serious conversations about our airport needs,” said City Councilman Joe Krier. “Does a 21st Century city want to have a 21st Century airport? That’s what we need to decide.”
I'm seeing something in the horizon...
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