Background

One thing that San Diego County residents appreciate about San Diego International Airport is its convenience. Whether it is picking up or dropping off family and friends or traveling for business or leisure, the convenience of getting in and out of the airport is something that makes all our lives easier. 

For more than 75 years, San Diego International Airport has served the air transportation needs of the San Diego region. With 22 airlines and 300 daily flights to 54 markets in the United States, Mexico and Canada, passengers routinely rank the airport among the best in the world for customer satisfaction.

The airport plays an essential role in the growth and economic well-being of the region by moving people, goods and services. For example:

• 18.3 million passengers pass through the airport annually
• SDIA contributes some $9.9 billion annually in economic impact to the region
• 53 percent of the airport’s passengers travel for leisure and 47 percent for business
• Approximately 115,000 jobs, or one of every 16 jobs in the region, are directly or indirectly related to operations at the airport

Looking ahead, demand at the airport will continue to grow. Today, more than 18.3 million people fly into and out of the airport every year, and that number is projected to increase to more than 27 million by 2030. At this pace, San Diego’s airport could experience severe congestion in less than a decade.

The Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for short-term improvements, including the addition of 10 new gates to Terminal 2 West and various airfield, parking and roadway improvements was certified and adopted by the Airport Authority Board on May 1, 2008.

However, that is only the beginning. As part of a regional planning process called Destination Lindbergh, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority Board is studying options and alternatives to meet San Diego’s air transportation needs for the next 30 years and beyond.  Read more about Destination Lindbergh. The nine-member board is composed of local and state leaders from all areas of the county who are uniquely qualified to tackle this assignment. Specifically, five of our members have decades of experience in the aviation industry, including two former naval aviators, a former marine pilot, and a current commercial airline pilot.

The Airport Authority Board, together with the public’s input, will shape a vision and plan for the airport that will address the region’s future air travel needs.