Some San Antonio City Council members want to know what the city is going to do to make its airport more competitive. This week’s discussion followed a Texas Public Radio report that documented higher than average ticket prices and concerns that the airport is falling behind.
San Antonio’s airport served more than eight million passengers last year but City Aviation Director Frank Miller acknowledged thousands who used to fly out of San Antonio are now traveling from Austin.
“We know that Austin is losing people to us mostly for travel into Mexico,” Miller said “ Going both ways there is a net loss to us and it’s about 300,000 passengers per year.”
Miller believes that could change if airlines add more non-stop flights in San Antonio.
District 8’s Ron Nirenberg said he’s concerned that isn’t happening fast enough. “It seems like every day that goes by that we don’t make progress--and I know we are [making progress]--that there are other airports that are becoming options for people and we certainly don’t want that to happen.”
One possible incentive to lure the airlines came from Councilman Joe Krier. He wants the city to promise airlines the seats on their planes will be full. And if they’re empty the city would pick up the tab. “It’s hard work, but it is doable if we take the right approach. We may have to throw some serious money at it,” he said.
City Manager Sheryl Sculley has placed a budget employee at the airport to work on plans for attracting new non-stop flights. Frank Miller says that next week he’ll present a new incentive package for airlines that expand services in San Antonio.
