Sep. 29—SAN ANTONIO — Parking garages at San Antonio International Airport have closed at least 50 times this year because they reached capacity as travelers returned to flying after the pandemic.
Before COVID-19, the garages never had to close.
"Just recently, it's been excessive," said Jesus Saenz, airport director.
The parking system at San Antonio International Airport has not changed much in 25 years, said City Manager Erik Walsh, and it's time to update it.
Privatization is an option. Such a move could affect 61 city employees who handle over 9,000 parking spaces, the airport shuttle program and more. The city will seek proposals to privatize parking within the next month or two, Saenz said. That's when companies can submit plans for how they'd operate airport parking. It could then take up to a year to put a new plan in place — although Saenz hopes it goes even faster.
Walsh promises the city's airport parking staff won't be out of a job.
"We will not impact any employee," Walsh said. "I'm confident of that."
San Antonio expects any private company looking to take over parking to offer continued employment to the city workers. If that doesn't cover everyone, officials will find other, similar city jobs for those employees in other departments.
That could help the city fill some of its vacancies in open positions too, said Human Resources Director Renee Frieda.
The city doesn't know how much a contract would cost yet, Saenz said. That's because companies could submit plans to privatize some functions, but not all. They could cover just the equipment or just the shuttle bus — or everything.
Privatizing parking is expected to help the airport make more money without having to raise parking rates for customers. The airport's revenue growth is important as officials embark on a decadeslong plan to renovate San Antonio International Airport, which includes the addition of a new third terminal and more parking.
The upgrades will be funded through revenue bonds, which rely on airport revenue to pay off the debt.
As San Antonio and surrounding communities experience explosive population growth, more people are flying out of the city's airport from farther away, Saenz said.
While it's growing, San Antonio International has the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport up Interstate 35 to compete with, said District 9 Councilman John Courage, who represents part of the airport. He wants to ensure rates stay competitive with those available in Austin.
Part of remaining competitive is growing the technology available to travelers who park at the airport, Saenz said. Airports in Austin, San Diego and elsewhere allow flyers to go online and book a parking spot in advance of their trip. That way they can arrive and head straight to their spot, without circling lots looking for an open space.
Saenz wants to bring such a service to San Antonio. Travelers could pay more for a premium parking spot closer to the airport entrance and pay lower rates to park farther away.
"We've been doing the same thing for a long time, and we have to change that," Saenz said.
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