San Antonio International Airport traffic fell in 2025
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Passenger traffic at San Antonio International Airport dropped in 2025 for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic — despite the airport adding new routes last year, a new report shows.
Why it matters: The decrease follows two record-breaking traffic years in 2023 and 2024 and comes as SAT undergoes a major expansion.
By the numbers: About 10.7 million passengers traveled through SAT last year, a 3.2% drop from 2024.
- Last year marked the first year-over-year decline since 2020.
- 2024 was the airport's busiest year, with more than 11 million passengers.
Yes, but: Air cargo at SAT rose dramatically — it was up 15.7% in 2025 compared to 2024.
What they're saying: An airport spokesperson did not respond to Axios' request for more information.
- In his monthly report, air service administrator Jacob Tyler cited economic uncertainty and last fall's government shutdown as reasons for the passenger decline, saying it limited consumer spending.
The big picture: Nationally, many international travelers skipped the U.S. last year, saying they were put off by tariffs, anti-foreigner rhetoric and aggressive immigration enforcement.
- Still, international travel at SAT was holding up as of September.
Zoom out: Airports like Minneapolis-St. Paul, Sky Harbor in Phoenix and Boston-Logan all saw passenger levels decline in 2025.
- Traffic at nearby Austin-Bergstrom International Airport was down just 0.44% from 2024 to 2025, although its December traffic was up year-over-year.
- Denver International Airport experienced a 0.1% increase in passengers over 2024, making 2025 its record-busiest year. The most recent data available in Philadelphia shows its airport traffic was also up.
Zoom in: SAT added at least four new routes in 2025, including a hard-fought-for nonstop flight to Washington, D.C., on American Airlines; a nonstop to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Spirit Airlines; and service to Morelia and San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
- The airport also resumed service to Torreón.
Condor's brief run of a flight from SAT to Germany, the city's first European nonstop route, did not return in 2025.
- It's unclear if other routes were canceled for 2025.
State of play: SAT is in the midst of a $2.5 billion renovation that includes a new terminal with up to 18 gates.
- Officials have consistently cited the increase in passenger traffic as the reason SAT needs more space. It's also meant to create a better traveler experience to help SAT compete for passengers in a booming region.
What's next: Air Canada begins new nonstop service to Toronto in May, offering the only nonstop option to Canada from SAT.