The History of T1

San Diego airfield opened as the first federally certified airfield that could serve all plane types, including sea planes, earning the first ever AAA rating for an airport.

San Diego Municipal Airport became a permanent international airport of entry by the US Treasury Department, establishing San Diego International Airport (SAN).

SAN’s current runway was constructed.

The San Diego Unified Port District was created when Senate Bill 41 passed in the State Legislature, which was certified by the County Board of Supervisors. District purview included ownership and operation of SAN.

Terminal 1 opened for business, serving 2.5 million passengers.

Terminal 2 opened for business.

300,000-square-foot expansion of Terminal 2 opened for passenger traffic.

The Green Build, a name that reflects the Airport Authority’s sustainability commitments, opened to passengers. This was a $1 billion project, the largest in airport history. The Green Build is the first LEED Platinum certified commercial airport terminal in the world.

Rental Car Center opened to passengers on Pacific Highway and consolidated rental car companies into one facility. It currently houses six rental car companies, operating 12 brands on-site, and two off-site, that pick up and drop off their customers.

Terminal 2 Parking Plaza opened to passengers. The Parking Plaza is a three-story facility that offers 2,900 parking stalls steps away from Terminal 2. It features several environmental benefits, such as a below-ground, 100,000-gallon stormwater capture and reuse system that diverts rainwater from entering the neighboring San Diego Bay and uses it to help manage the air temperature in the terminals.

International Arrivals Facility opened to passengers. The International Arrivals facility features six international gates, the latest technologies from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, an expanded baggage claim and passenger wait area, and two public artworks. The 130,000 square-foot facility offers nonstop flights to and from six countries including Japan, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Canada.

The Airport Authority released the draft environmental study for the New T1 to the public in July.

The Airport Authority certified the environmental study for the New T1 by unanimous vote on January 9.

The Board approved the selection of Turner-Flatiron as the design-build firm for the Terminal & Roadway portion of the New T1 in September.

On October 7, the San Diego County Regional Airport Board of Directors unanimously approved the maximum contract price and master project schedule for the design and construction of a new airport terminal to replace the existing Terminal 1 and related improvements.

November 1 construction began.

The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority along with federal, state, and city officials held a groundbreaking celebration for the New T1 on December 13.