The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Friday the agency is awarding grants totaling $43,250,959 for airfield improvements at the San Antonio airport.
The grant for SAT is the largest of the four grants awarded to U.S. airports from the latest round of funding through the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program. The agency also announced funding for airports in Abilene (Texas), Jackson Hole (Wyo.) and Wilmington (N.C.) for a total of $84.4 million awarded.
The grant is the largest FAA award for the San Antonio International Airport (SAT) in the airport’s history, according to the announcement from SAT, and supports the ongoing $2.5 billion airport development project.
Airports are permitted by the agency to use these funds for infrastructure projects such as runways, taxiways, signage, lighting, markings and other safety-related needs.
The airport development project is being funded through airport revenue, which includes carrier fees, parking and concessions. Thus the grant helps the airport stretch its dollars, stated City Manager Erik Walsh.
“These federal investments will help strengthen a critical piece of San Antonio’s transportation infrastructure while supporting the continued development of our airport,” he said.
The drainage improvements are part of the airport’s broader Airfield Safety Enhancement and Improvements Program, which is meant to modernize SAT’s airfield infrastructure in coordination with the FAA.
The airfield improvements include work on the drainage system to add stormwater capacity and bring airport infrastructure up to FAA and rainfall-design standards.
Already under contract, the project will include building a new underground stormwater system to carry rainwater from the airfield and new terminal development area to Salado Creek, providing additional stormwater capacity and eliminating standing water on the airfield.
The improved system is expected to reduce the conditions that attract wildlife, increasing the risk of bird strikes. It will also provide some protection for airfield and terminal operations during heavy rainstorms, according to airport officials.
The benefits will be felt throughout the airport, said the city’s director of airports, Jesus Saenz.
“This drainage improvement is an important investment in the airport’s infrastructure and will help support a safe, resilient and efficient operation for years to come,” Saenz said.
The latest awards build on nearly $6.8 million in funding previously secured for design and construction work related to the project.
Since 2020, the FAA has awarded SAT with $217.7 million in federal funds, including $99.2 million for airfield projects and $114.5 million for terminal projects.
Those terminal projects include the Terminal A gate expansion, a new Terminal C, and their enabling projects, as well as $3.9 million for other projects at SAT.
Saenz said the federal grants are the result of support from San Antonio’s congressional delegation and reflects the airport’s track record of delivering projects on schedule and within budget.
“SAT appreciates the continued partnership with the FAA in advancing these critical improvements,” he said.
In late July, the city released to the municipal bond market $866.44 million in Airport Revenue and Refunding Bonds, the city’s biggest-ever airport bond issue, to support the terminal development program and related projects.
That funding will support construction of a new 18-gate terminal expected to be complete in 2028, city officials said.
At $1.4 billion, Terminal C is the largest piece of the overall redevelopment project at the airport.
