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San Diego Airport Opens New Terminal 1 With 19 Gates as $3.8 Billion Overhaul Debuts

The project begins a phased expansion to 30 gates by early 2028.

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Passengers make their way to their gate or to the baggage claim area of the newly opened Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport. Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, was the official grand opening of the new Terminal 1.  (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
San Diego International Airport will welcome the first flights to arrive at the new Terminal 1. Passengers from flight from Honolulu is the first flight at the San Diego International Airport on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Overview

  • The one-million–plus–square-foot facility handled its first full day of arrivals and departures Tuesday after inaugural arrivals Monday night, with airport officials citing smoother curb access and check-in.
  • The old 1967 Terminal 1 is closed and demolition is expected to start within about a week and take roughly three months to clear the site for the next construction phase.
  • Nineteen gates are in service now, with 11 more due by early 2028, and initial carriers include Southwest, Breeze, Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit and Sun Country, with Air Canada and WestJet slated for 2026 and Delta by 2028.
  • Passenger upgrades include a 13-lane security checkpoint, a high-capacity baggage system, an outdoor terrace, extensive public art and a lineup of local dining and retail brands.
  • Access and operations are bolstered by a new on-airport roadway that bypasses North Harbor Drive, expanded parking, and SITA-powered common-use systems with self-service kiosks, biometrics and real-time signage.