City of San Antonio | City of San Antonio website
City of San Antonio | City of San Antonio website
San Antonio International Airport (SAT) has achieved a significant milestone as it broke its all-time passenger record in 2023, making it the busiest year in the airport's 80-year history. A total of 10,676,570 passengers flew through SAT, surpassing the previous record set in 2019 by 3 percent.
"We are on cloud nine," expressed Jesus Saenz, Director of Airports, San Antonio Airport System (SAAS). "This is a historical milestone for SAT with 10.7 million passengers. We know how much hard work went into it all – with new routes announced domestically and internationally. 2023 is now the year to beat. We're getting ready for our first-ever nonstop flights to Europe starting in May on Condor Airlines – and we're planning so much more in 2024."
SAT's achievements in 2023 didn't stop at breaking the all-time passenger record. The airport also experienced its busiest December ever, with 968,469 passengers and the first time passenger numbers reached above 900,000 for that month. Additionally, SAT broke a monthly passenger level record every month consecutively since May.
The increase in passenger numbers in 2023 was significant, with a nearly 13 percent rise compared to the previous year. July became the first month in SAT's history to have more than one million passengers.
Brian Pratte, Chief Air Service Officer of SAAS, acknowledged the efforts made to enhance the airport's services. "SAT launched several new routes and saw the expansion of existing service," said Pratte. "Spirit Airlines added new nonstop service to Baltimore, Ft. Lauderdale, and Los Angeles. Viva Aerobus added a new destination, Queretaro, last month. Delta Air Lines resumed daily service to New York (JFK), and Southwest Airlines brought back daily service to Kansas City."
Looking ahead to 2024, SAT has exciting plans for further growth. Several new routes have already been announced, adding to the airport's continual expansion. Spirit Airlines recently launched nonstop service to Tampa on January 11, and on April 5, they will introduce daily nonstop service to Newark. Condor Airlines will join SAT's network on May 17, offering nonstop service to Frankfurt three times a week. VivaAerobus will start nonstop service to Torreon on June 1, with two weekly frequencies, and on June 4, Southwest Airlines will commence nonstop service to Burbank. Additionally, American Airlines will launch daily, nonstop service to Philadelphia on June 5.
The achievements of San Antonio International Airport in 2023 and the plans for 2024 demonstrate the airport's commitment to providing convenient and efficient travel options for passengers. With its continuous expansion and improved connectivity, SAT is poised to remain a vital hub for both domestic and international travel.
For more information about San Antonio International Airport, please visit the airport's website.
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