San Antonio economic development group launches fund to entice more nonstop flights to the airport

Local executives and politicians have long groused about a lack of nonstop flights from San Antonio International Airport, calling it a roadblock to companies’ expansion and relocation here. The airport’s schedule is also a frequent complaint of leisure travelers, some of whom would rather drive 90 minutes to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to catch a direct flight. Now, business leaders are opening their checkbooks to do something about it. A fund launched by Greater:SATX to draw more nonstop flights to Europe, Canada, Mexico and the Bay Area has so far drawn $3 million from the private sector. It will put San Antonio on an equal footing with other cities in conversations with airlines, said Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, president and CEO of the regional economic development authority.

“The challenge is, a lot of communities that have that high-growth perspective like San Antonio are having similar conversations, but they also have businesses at the table that are working and making some of these deals,” she said Friday. The fund will primarily be used to guarantee airlines that a minimum number of seats will be paid for on flights. Airport Director Jesus Saenz said it was about more than the airport. “We want to try and capture an opportunity to incentivize an airline to want to do business with us,” he said. “It’s an excellent opportunity for us to work collectively together as a team to continue to grow the San Antonio opportunity, not only in air service, but in economic development as well.” The funding comes as the airport — which is often criticized as drab and small — is in the midst of a $2.5 billion facelift over the next 20 years to expand and modernize. Generating private sector muscle to lure more flights was one of the goals Greater:SATX set last year in its strategic plan. Along with the airport, the fund will work with Visit San Antonio and the largest companies headquartered in the region.