Show menu

San Diego's New Terminal 1 Opens September 22, 2025

San Diego Terminal 1 exterior with new glass facade, showing expanded curbside and entrance for the airport expansion opening.
by
5 min read

San Diego International Airport's new Terminal 1 will welcome its first flights on September 22, 2025, marking the airport's biggest upgrade in decades. Phase 1A debuts with 19 gates, a 13-lane security checkpoint, and a slate of new local restaurants and shops. Travelers will also see easier access thanks to a newly opened, signal-free entrance road and a 5,200-space parking plaza. The full 30-gate buildout is scheduled to finish in 2028, at which point the existing 1967 terminal will be gone.

Key Points

  • Why it matters: The new facility increases capacity, reduces pinch points, and modernizes the traveler experience at San Diego International Airport (SAN).
  • Travel impact: Phase 1A opens with 19 gates, a 13-lane checkpoint, and improved access roads and parking that should shorten curb-to-gate times.
  • What's next: Additional gates, more dining and retail, and future airline moves phase in through 2026, then to full completion in 2028.
  • Open house: A public preview is set for September 14 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Sustainability: The project targets LEED Gold and carbon-free electricity.

Snapshot

The first phase of San Diego's New T1 launches with 19 gates, expanded seating, a 13-lane TSA checkpoint, and approximately 30 restaurants and retail outlets. A three-lane, signal-free on-airport roadway now feeds both terminals, intended to pull as many as 45,000 cars a day off North Harbor Drive. The Terminal 1 Parking Plaza, completed in June, brings 5,200 close-in spaces with wayfinding upgrades and ample EV charging. Airlines operating in Phase 1A include Southwest, Frontier, Spirit, Sun Country, JetBlue, Allegiant, and Breeze, with Air Canada and WestJet slated to join in early 2026. Delta is set to move with the project's second phase in 2028.

Background

Terminal 1 opened in 1967, and it has long struggled with crowding as San Diego's passenger volumes surged. The Airport Authority launched the $3.8 billion New T1 program in 2021 to replace that building while keeping the airport operating. The program includes terminal and roadway construction, airside improvements to reduce taxi time and emissions, and a new administration building that already achieved LEED Gold. When finished in 2028, New T1 will total 30 gates with pre- and post-security connectors to Terminal 2, more seating at gates, and a children's play area. Sustainability features include carbon-free electricity, extensive stormwater capture, and hundreds of EV chargers.

Latest Developments

Opening timeline and airline moves

The first flights into the New T1 are scheduled for the evening of September 22, 2025, followed by a ramp-up of operations the next morning. Phase 1A opens 19 of the planned 30 gates. Southwest anchors the operation, joined by Frontier, Spirit, Sun Country, JetBlue, Allegiant, and Breeze. International partners Air Canada and WestJet are expected to shift into the building in early 2026. Delta's move is planned for the 2028 completion. The older Terminal 1 will be demolished once the Phase 1A footprint is fully online and airline transitions settle.

Getting to SAN, parking, and curbside flow

Access improves immediately. A new three-lane, signal-free entrance roadway now carries drivers directly to Terminals 1 and 2, easing chokepoints and reducing travel time on airport property. The Terminal 1 Parking Plaza's second stage opened in June, bringing total close-in capacity to 5,200 spaces near the new check-in halls. Wayfinding, protected walk paths, and additional EV charging simplify the last mile from car or rideshare to the lobby. Travelers should still build in extra time during the first weeks as traffic patterns adjust and crews complete final punch-list work.

Inside the building, checkpoint and concessions

The New T1's 13-lane security checkpoint is designed to distribute queues more evenly and shorten peak wait times. Beyond security, travelers will find a mix of San Diego-forward dining and retail with about 30 venues phased in alongside additional gate seating and airfield views. Public art installations by regional and national artists, outdoor terrace spaces, and improved natural light aim to lift the overall experience. The terminal is engineered for growth and sustainability, with carbon-free electricity, stormwater capture infrastructure, and room reserved for a future transit connection.

Analysis

For a single-runway airport, capacity is as much about terminal flow as it is about movements per hour. New T1 addresses the chronic curb-to-gate bottlenecks by separating levels, expanding the checkpoint to 13 lanes, and adding more hold-room seating. That should smooth banked departures for Southwest and other carriers, limiting the cascade of minor delays that often ripple across the schedule. The new entrance roadway and parking plaza also matter, since congestion on North Harbor Drive has been a hidden tax on on-time performance and traveler stress. On the airline side, phasing brings flexibility. Low-cost and leisure carriers get modern gate space now, while cross-border partners shift in 2026, and Delta aligns with the 2028 finish. Finally, sustainability investments, including carbon-free electricity and large-scale stormwater systems, put SAN closer to regional climate goals without sacrificing throughput. Expect a short learning curve for drivers and curbside traffic, then steady gains in reliability.

Final Thoughts

San Diego Terminal 1 is more than a new front door, it is the airport's long-term fix for crowding and curbside delays. With 19 gates on day one, a 13-lane checkpoint, a faster entrance road, and a broad lineup of local dining, the facility should make departures and connections less stressful. Give yourself extra time in the first weeks as traffic patterns settle, follow signage to the new roadway, and check your airline's terminal assignment before you go. The final buildout to 30 gates by 2028 will complete the vision for San Diego Terminal 1.

Sources

Topics