Airport Shares Top Summer Travel Tip as Passenger Records Soar

Published on June 25, 2024

Travelers should arrive at least two hours early

SAN ANTONIO (June 25, 2024) — As summer travel heats up, San Antonio International Airport (SAT) is on a back-to-back record-breaking streak with monthly passenger numbers being the highest-ever recorded every month since May 2023. Last month, a total of 974,078 passengers flew through SAT – setting another record for the busiest May in the airport’s history. With the Fourth of July holiday approaching, almost 300,000 travelers will be flying in and out of SAT from Saturday, June 29, through Sunday, July 7.

SAT is kicking off a campaign to share travel tips with the message, “It Takes 2.” – to focus on arriving at least two hours prior to boarding time – not departure time. Boarding times vary by airline. Travelers can find their flight’s boarding time on their boarding pass.

Also, travelers should use the following time frames when planning their trips:

• Domestic flights: Arrive at least 2 hours before boarding time.
• International flights: Arrive at least 3 hours before boarding time.

“Arriving early at SAT is key this summer,” said Jesus Saenz, Director of Airports, City of San Antonio Aviation Department. “We want every traveler to have a smooth experience as we continue to grow and see more people flying to their destinations. By getting here early, you will have time to navigate through check-in, security and the terminals. Our travelers can have a successful start to their summer vacation by following this advice.”

Jacob Tyler, Air Service Administrator for SAT, points out that 2023 was the busiest year in SAT’s history with nearly 10.7 million passengers flying through the airport’s two terminals. 

“This exciting trend with yet another increase in travelers has continued with May 2024,” Tyler said. “Comparing the numbers to the year prior, the airport experienced a 5% increase in passengers compared to May 2023.”

To better accommodate international travelers, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection at SAT, which performs Global Entry interviews seven days a week, is now offering double the number of appointments for conditionally approved applicants on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. SAT’s website has information on how to schedule an appointment.

Travelers with questions about what they can pack should visit TSA’s website and/or TSA’s social media platforms.

For more information on SAT’s 45 nonstop destinations, please visit the airport’s website.