SAN ANTONIO — The stage was set, literally—runway-designed rugs, women dressed in ‘70s-era flight attendant outfits, and a man in a reflective orange vest directing traffic with a light wand. The San Antonio International Airport (SAT) was ready to introduce its first-ever mascot.
People gathered outside Terminal B, there for both the event and their flights. Frank Sinatra’s “Come Fly with Me” played over the sound system, and then the furry, blue and purple face of Jett the airplane arrived.
“The airport has grown with its travelers, right? So we wanted to elevate the experience, so this is it,” said SAT Public Relations Manager Tonya Hope. “We’ve been talking about a mascot for a couple of years. Jett is going to provide smiles and laughter throughout the airport.”
With new branding and a fun new mascot to pull out at events, the San Antonio International Airport is showing that it’s ready—ready to elevate this airport to other similar-sized airports across the country.
The $2.5 billion multi-year expansion is already underway. Terminal A is already being expanded, with completion expected later this year. A new parking garage and significant upgrades are also part of the Elevate/SAT project.
The big addition will be ready in 2028, and includes a new 850,000+ square-foot Terminal C with 18 gates designed to boost capacity for larger aircraft and international flights.
As for economic development, the expansion is critical for San Antonio to remain in line with cities like Nashville and St. Louis, with 75% of new concessions focused on local San Antonio brands. It’s an exciting time for the people involved with this project, and Jett is their way of showing that joy.
“We wanted to elevate our travel experience. We wanted to take it to an entirely different level,” Hope said.
Welcome to the new San Antonio International Airport, and welcome to the age of Jett.