San Diego International Airport is preparing for its first busy summer season with its renovated Terminal 1, while construction continues on another major expansion project.
Terminal 1 officially opened in September and is “performing fantastically,” said Nicole Hall, spokesperson for San Diego International Airport. But airport construction crews were wasting no time getting to work on the project’s phase 2.
“If you haven’t been to the airport in a while, it definitely looks different,” Hall said.
Construction on the second phase began just days after the first phase opened last fall.
“This is the biggest capital improvement project the San Diego International Airport has ever embarked on,” Hall said.
By early 2028, the expanded Terminal 1 will include nine additional restaurants, three new shops and 11 more gates for Delta Air Lines. Delta will join Southwest Airlines as one of the largest carriers operating out of Terminal 1.
Airport leaders say the expansion will allow more visitors to fly into San Diego, boosting the region’s tourism-driven economy.
“You know, travel really boosts our regional economy,” Hall said.
Plans also include two new airport lounges as part of the expanded terminal.
Once construction is complete, the airport will build a connector between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, expected to be finished by 2029.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.