New CBP Facility Opens at San Antonio International

Texas’ San Antonio International Airport (SAT) has inaugurated its new U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility for general aviation. The airport was approved as a U.S. entry port in 2009, and the facility has been in the works since 2012. Last year, CBP processed more than 22,000 international GA passengers and more than 4,200 general aviation aircraft at the airport’s temporary facility.

“We’ve seen as many as 83 general aviation flights in a single day,” said CBP port director Lois Hunter. “This is in addition to the workload that continues in the commercial environment at SAT."

In an effort to expedite construction of the new 5,000 square foot facility across the airfield from commercial operations, the city negotiated a public/private partnership with San Antonio-based aircraft design and modification specialist Innova Aerospace, which invested nearly $3 million to design and build the facility, while the city’s aviation department constructed the apron and taxiway improvements to provide airside access to the building.

To accommodate Global Entry members, the location offers a pair of kiosks to process trusted travelers. The project, located on the north side of the airport, represents an overall investment of approximately $6 million.

“CBP is happy to partner with the San Antonio International Airport on this facility, which will accommodate the growing private and general aircraft industry here,” noted Judson Murdock II, CBP’s director of field operations. “This is a great example of public-private partnership as the winners are not only the employees who will staff this facility, not only the city that will reap economic dividends from this investment, but also travelers who chose to land here will have a better travel experience because of the technology invested.”