DEI Goals and Cost Savings: San Diego Airport's Journey with PlanetBids

The San Diego International Airport (SAN) is the busiest single-runway commercial airport in the United States and the third-busiest airport in California, serving about 20 million passengers each year. Built in 1927, the airport spans 663 acres in Central San Diego and features non-stop flights to 76 domestic and 11 international destinations in 7 countries, operated by 23 airlines.

As the airport neared its 100-year anniversary, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, the independent agency in charge of managing day-to-day operations for the airport, began plans to update the airport’s aging terminals. 

First, the airport added 10 gates to Terminal 2 in 2013, plus a two-level roadway, and a larger concession area for food, drink, and shopping. This “Green Build” project created 1,000 jobs at peak construction and earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum Certification. 

The second phase of construction started in 2021 with a brand-new Terminal 1, a $3.8 Billion project featuring a 13-lane security checkpoint, 26 restaurants and retail stores, 30 gates, 185 electric vehicle charging stations, and 5,2000 parking spaces.

The new “T1” will include a new, on-airport access road that allows travelers to bypass local traffic, plus new bicycle lanes and a pedestrian path to connect the airport to San Diego’s surrounding communities. Six public artists were commissioned to design spaces in the outdoor plazas, ticketing lobby, and a family play area, as well.

The first phase – including 19 new gates and the complete Parking Plaza – is scheduled to open in late summer 2025, with Phase 1B’s final 11 gates scheduled to open in early 2028.