San Antonio International Airport

What are the highlights and features of San Antonio International Airport?

First opened in 1942 as a training base for the US Army Air Force, San Antonio International Airport reverted to its original intended use as a civil airport at the end of World War II. Since then, it has gradually expanded with new terminal buildings and other structures, including additional parking. The current Terminal B building was built in 2010 while Terminal A dates back to 1984.

Inside the terminal buildings, you’ll find a pretty good array of dining and shopping options. You can choose from pizzerias, smokehouses, sandwich shops and cuisines ranging from Mexican to Mediterranean. The choice isn’t exactly globe-spanning, but it’s respectable. Of course, it wouldn’t be Texas if there weren’t a couple of food trucks. Head to the Consolidated Rental Car Facility, a short walk from Terminal B, for a wide range of gourmet offerings.

The shopping selection at San Antonio International Airport is similarly modest. You’ll find convenience stores and a few electrical retails, as well as a small Duty Free outlet and some places to buy local souvenirs. Other amenities include free Wi-Fi throughout the terminals, currency exchange services, ATMs, and water bottle-filling and charging stations.

How to get to and from San Antonio International Airport?

The fastest way to cover the short distance between the airport and Downtown San Antonio is to take a taxi or rideshare. The journey should take about 20-25 minutes. Both taxis and rideshares pick up outside Terminal A.

VIA Metropolitan Transit – San Antonio’s public transport provider – runs a bus route from the airport to Downtown. The cost is a fraction of that of a taxi, making it the cheapest available option for getting into the city from San Antonio International Airport. The journey time is only about 30 minutes. You’ll find the stop clearly marked on the Arrivals level of both terminals – just look out for the number 5 bus.

Car rentals are available at the Consolidated Car Rental Facility. Most of the big rental companies have offices here, with Alamo, Hertz and National Car Rental even providing 24-hour service.

Good to know about San Antonio International Airport

San Antonio International Airport is a highly accessible place, with plenty of disabled parking spaces, wheelchair accessible taxis available, braille buttons on elevators and specially designed ticket counters, restrooms, drinking fountains, ATMs and more.

The airport has a dedicated Arts, Culture and Music Program to make your travelling experience as pleasant as possible. It features both fixed and rotating temporary art exhibits, including a large mural in the Consolidated Car Rental Facility by local artists Dos Mestizx, Suzy González and Michael Menchaca. The 3-part mural named ¡Adelante San Antonio! celebrates the rich history of one of America’s biggest cities. There are even some live music performances scheduled throughout the year.