San Diego’s New Terminal Blends Design, Technology And Sustainability To Revolutionize Airport Travel, Here’s What You Need To Know

Published on September 23, 2025

Terminal 1 of San Diego International Airport was precocious inaugurated dominating nan latest news of nan pear of nan San Diego Airport. The redevelopment neck-breakingly worthy 3 cardinal dollars rewards nan practices of nan timeless captures of San Diego which return cognizance of nan futuristic audacity of nan metropolis and hence employs it adesign and modern technology. Keeping nan goals of nan metropolis successful show and hopes successful bosom nan location useful arsenic a jump connecting nan metropolis to nan State of nan Art accommodation of nan San Diego federation which is rather an precocious separator considering nan truth that San Diego is nan astir soaring single-runway airdrome successful nan nation.

The centerpiece of nan terminal is simply a spectacular elevated courtyard. The courtyard is brimming pinch sunlight and lined by verdant landscaping. Above it, 5 soaring symptoms of nan San Diego federation invited nan arrivals and departing passengers. Like beacons of a metallic winged seagull, nan terminal wit enthralls each passerby. Each is is enshrined successful a excavation of tranquility and quiescent successful nan gentle caress of a Mediterranean breeze. Looks aside, nan beauty is successful nan functionality which resonates pinch nan breeze of nan San Diego nation. Passengers will person physics conveniences and newfound pre information sectional quiescence, on pinch galore channels of confederate exposure. Welcome to San Diego.

A Transformative Expansion: What’s New astatine Terminal 1?

The description of Terminal 1 is thing short of impressive, arsenic it triples nan size of nan erstwhile terminal. The recently redesigned terminal now boasts 19 gates, 17 concessions, 13 information lanes, and 7 baggage carousels—significant improvements designed to streamline operations and heighten nan rider experience. The further abstraction allows for amended circulation, accrued earthy light, and improved amenities that item nan earthy beauty of San Diego.

The first shape of nan task besides includes a 2nd phase, slated for completion by early 2028, which will adhd 11 further gates, bringing nan full number of gates to 30. This description is peculiarly important for an airdrome for illustration SAN, which operates astatine nan maximum capacity of a azygous runway. The accrued gross capacity will let for much flights, smoother operations, and a much businesslike recreation acquisition for passengers.

The creation of Terminal 1 is not conscionable astir capacity but astir creating a welcoming, stress-free situation for travelers. The terminal’s creation is inspired by Southern California’s earthy beauty, pinch curved solid panels, wave-like woody ceilings, and acoustic treatments aimed astatine creating a calming atmosphere. There are expansive views of nan coastline and downtown San Diego, which passengers tin bask while waiting for their flights aliases while relaxing connected nan outdoor terrace overlooking Harbor Island.

A Reflection of San Diego’s Identity: Architecture and Design

The architectural creation of Terminal 1, led by Gensler, emphasizes section materials and earthy beauty, creating an situation that is some functional and aesthetically pleasing. A standout characteristic of nan terminal is nan façade of curved, fritted solid panels that service arsenic some a functional shading instrumentality and a nationalist creation installation called “Luminous Wave,” created by creator James Carpenter. These creation elements thief merge nan terminal pinch its surroundings and bespeak San Diego’s personality arsenic a coastal, vibrant city.

The terminal’s creation besides prioritizes sustainability, which is simply a increasing inclination successful airdrome construction. By incorporating environmentally conscious elements specified arsenic energy-efficient lighting, star panels, and earthy ventilation, Terminal 1 sets a caller modular for sustainable airdrome design. It is pursuing LEED v4 Silver certification and different biology creation awards, ensuring that nan airdrome contributes to San Diego’s broader ambiance action goals.

Technology astatine nan Core: Enhancing Passenger Experience pinch Innovation

In summation to its striking design, Terminal 1 besides integrates cutting-edge exertion to heighten ratio and amended nan wide rider experience. The airdrome collaborated pinch SITA, a starring supplier of IT services for nan aerial carrier industry, to incorporated innovative passenger-processing systems straight into nan building process. The consequence is simply a terminal that prioritizes easiness of use, real-time information, and soft travel for travelers.

Key technological features of Terminal 1 include:

• Self-Service Kiosks: 66 self-service kiosks are disposable for passengers to cheque successful quickly and easily, reducing hold times and expanding operational efficiency.
• Biometric Face Pods: At prime boarding points, biometric look pods will let passengers to committee flights utilizing facial nickname technology, eliminating nan request for boarding passes and streamlining nan boarding process.
• Real-Time Flight Information: The move formation accusation strategy powered by SITA Airport Vision displays up-to-date formation statuses, gross assignments, and information hold times, ensuring passengers person each nan accusation they request to navigate nan terminal.
• Common Use Systems: The terminal’s common-use systems let airlines to stock counters, gates, and kiosks, which is peculiarly useful astatine an airdrome for illustration SAN wherever Southwest Airlines accounts for much than half of nan airport’s traffic. This elasticity helps trim bottlenecks during highest hours.

These technological enhancements activity together to make nan terminal much efficient, reducing accent for passengers and helping to soft nan travel of group done nan airport.

Sustainability and Long-Term Environmental Goals

Sustainability is simply a cornerstone of nan caller Terminal 1, arsenic SAN is committed to reducing its biology impact. The airdrome has already made strides successful sustainability by operating connected 100 percent carbon-free energy and implementing stormwater reuse systems and energy-efficient infrastructure.

The terminal’s tile is designed to accommodate a 4 MW star array, which will importantly trim power consumption. Projections show that nan terminal will trim its power usage by 20 percent and trim embodied c by much than 30 percent. This committedness to sustainability will thief guarantee that Terminal 1 serves San Diego for decades, gathering nan city’s semipermanent ambiance and biology goals.

What Travelers Need to Know During nan Transition

The modulation from nan aged terminal to nan caller 1 will beryllium gradual. From Tuesday, September 23, each flights—arrivals and departures—will run exclusively from nan caller terminal. By September 23, nan aged terminal will adjacent permanently, and nan caller installation will service arsenic San Diego’s exclusive Terminal 1.

A New Beginning for San Diego’s Airport

The caller building of Terminal 1 is conscionable nan first measurement of a larger redevelopment inaugural worthy 3 cardinal dollars scheduled for completion by nan extremity of 2028. The terminal embodies nan taste changes that airports astir nan world are going through. The caller authorities of nan creation terminal reflects taste changes for nan cities it serves. The terminal is embedded pinch caller inventive exertion blended pinch world people luxurious creation meant to beryllium a measurement successful nan advancement of airports astir nan globe.

In nan only remaining shape of construction, Terminal 1 hopes to actively amended nan recreation acquisition for each of its passengers. Once building is afloat completed successful 2028, ports terminal 1 will azygous handedly summation nan ratio of each remaining ports alongside nan bonzer creation for anchoring ports.

The building of terminal 1 besides hopes to supply a smoother acquisition for each its passengers. The larboard hopes to beryllium a first measurement for each different ports successful nan world to supply a smoother acquisition for business and leisure passengers alike.