Guiding Principles

A robust challenge exists: optimize the nation’s busiest single-runway airport while leading a strategic planning effort to meet the needs of traveler growth a decade from today with no tax dollars being spent. 

The framework developed by the Airport Authority Board for solving this challenge, providing great customer care and meeting travelers needs are the “Guiding Principles.”  These principles are:

1. Develop an Airport Facilities Strategic Plan that distributes service operations between the south and north sides of San Diego International Airport.  To achieve the balance, the plan should be flexible and delineate options involving the allocation of commercial, cargo, general aviation facilities, operations and services;
2. Develop an adaptable plan with landowners and other stakeholders, as appropriate, that seeks to maximize efficient ground access, ingress and egress to and from the north side of SDIA, as far as practicable, in accordance with planned and actual facilities and services on the north and south sides of the airport;
3. Develop a plan, through a Memorandum of Understanding, with regional stakeholders that would define the acquisition of land, rights of way, various funding alternatives and sources, for development of a multimodal transit center serving San Diego International Airport and the community;
4. Plan the airport in a way that makes SDIA an international model for inter-modal transportation and regional sustainability, while recognizing the Airport Authority’s responsibility to develop on-airport facilities to meet aviation demand, while addressing community, transportation, economic and environmental needs and concerns;
5. Develop a plan that is financially realistic and exhibits positive cost-benefit relationships;
6. Develop an airport that balances the resources available at San Diego International Airport with other potential aviation resources available to the county;
7. Develop an airport at SDIA that, together with other aviation facilities in the San Diego/Tijuana region, maximizes airside and landside airport capacity involving commercial, cargo and general aviation facilities, operations and service.