SIMPLE FLYING: HOW $1.3 BILLION WILL TAKE SACRAMENTO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO NEW HEIGHTS

Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is the only commercial airport serving the California capital. Opened in 1967, the airport was called Sacramento Metropolitan Airport. It was the first “public use airport west of the Mississippi that had been completely built from the ground up.”

Today, the airport has grown to include two terminals and is served by 12 airlines. The airport has about 8,500 flights monthly. The full list of airlines is below:

1. American Airlines
2. Delta Air Lines
3. United Airlines
4. Air Canada
5. Aeroméxico
6. Alaska Airlines
7. Frontier Airlines
8. Hawaiian Airlines
9. JetBlue
10. Southwest Airlines
11. Spirit Airlines
12. Volaris

Southwest Airlines is the busiest airline in Sacramento, and this month it has more than half of the airport's market share. According to Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, Southwest has more than 4,000 flights and over 700,000 seats.

Today, there are two terminals at the airport, Terminal A and Terminal B. Terminal A was opened in 1998, and, in 2008, SMF began its biggest modernization project in history. The project called “The Big Build” included building a new Terminal B that was three times bigger than the previous terminal.

Terminal B opened in 2011, and a few days before the official opening, the airport hosted a full-day free preview for more than 4,500 people. The demolition of the old Terminal B was finished in August 2012.

“The Big Build” is no longer the biggest airport improvement project at SMF. In 2023, the airport announced SMForward, a $1.3 billion project that includes seven major expansions which are listed below:

1. Pedestrian walkway
2. Terminal B parking garage
3. New Terminal A exit road
4. Concourse B Expansion
5. Terminal A Expansion
6. Ground Transportation Center
7. Consolidated rental car center
8. Pedestrian walkway

As mentioned above, Terminal B was opened in 2011 and is the newest terminal at SMF. Currently, the Terminal B gates are accessible via a tram. The distance from the main building, where passengers check-in and collect bags, is short, and the airport has two trams running.

Though a train is a great option, passengers cannot walk between the main building and the concourse at the airport. This will soon change, as the airport is adding a sky bridge with moving sidewalks, escalators, and elevators. The airport broke ground on this project in August 2024, making it the first of the SMForward campaign.

“This is the first project of our $1.3 billion SMForward program and the culmination of years of planning and creativity. By transforming how people experience travel, we’re enhancing our community’s connection to the region and the world, boosting our economy and improving our quality of life.” - Cindy Nichol, Director Sacramento County Department of Airports.

According to the airport website, the walkway will cost $140 million. $33 million was provided via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Additional funding comes from a low-interest federal loan and airport revenue bonds. No tax dollars will be used for this project.

“This walkway, with two sky bridges and a hub, is built with the future in mind. They will provide SMF’s passengers a flexible portal that can connect to a future concourse to meet our growing region’s need for air travel for decades to come.” - Phil Serna, Sacramento County Supervisor

Patrick Kennedy, Sacramento County Supervisor and Chair, added that the airport was expected to break its passenger record in 2024. Further, the walkway will meet demands now and in the future.

The airport broke ground on the new garage project in October. The new space will feature 5,500 parking spaces and will be located east of Terminal B, where the hourly lot was previously. According to the airport, “The state-of-the-art parking garage will include a passenger guidance system for parking, reserved parking, electric vehicle charging and desirable close-in, covered parking.”

The new garage has an expected completion time of Fall 2026. During the construction phase, about 1,000 jobs will be created. Otto Construction, the same company that built the parking garage for Terminal A, was chosen for the Terminal B project.

“Today’s groundbreaking is another important step to realize the SMForward vision and deliver tangible improvements for our community. This new parking garage will greatly expand capacity while going above and beyond to make the facility convenient and technologically cutting-edge. I’m proud to champion the work of our airport - and we are only continuing to push the envelope to keep it the national gold standard for years to come.” - Congresswoman Doris Matsui

According to the airport, there are several parking options that remain open during construction. Short-term parking remains available at Terminal A, Daily Lot, or East Economy Lot. All three of these lots cost $2 per half hour. The East Economy lot is the only one of the three that requires a shuttle to get to the terminal.

New gates and dining options will be added to the west side of Concourse B, moving into some ramp space sometimes used for aircraft parking.

Currently, the Terminal A exit joins with the Terminal B exit. Though there typically is no traffic, the airport plans to add a new exit road for Terminal A, “allowing for a better flow of traffic, and a hub to allow for a more efficient shuttle system.” Construction is projected to begin in the third quarter and be completed in the third quarter of 2026.

Terminal A, built in 1998, is a great terminal. Several dining options are located in the central area post-security, and a small American Express Escape Lounge is available. However, with the growth that SMF is experiencing, Terminal A needs to expand.

With over three dozen locations at some of the busiest airports globally, Amex has linked itself with premium travel.

Construction on new gates, a new ticketing area, a baggage claim carousel, and office space is set to begin this winter and be completed in winter 2027. According to the airport, the expansion will be to both sides of the check-in part of Terminal A.

“SMForward represents the continued implementation of SMF’s master plan, which the Sacramento County Board approved of Supervisors in February 2022. The plan evaluated past and projected passenger growth along with infrastructure needs as a basis for developing a plan to accommodate that growth. In addition to roadways and gates, the master plan anticipates the additional facilities and airfield infrastructure needed to meet the growing demand for air travel.” - TJ Chen, Deputy Director of Airport Planning and Development.

In early December, the airport announced its request for qualifications (RFQ) to find a private developer for the new rental car facility. The design and construction of this facility are estimated at $390 million. Once opened, all rental car facilities will be consolidated to one building, and because of its location, should reduce roadway congestion.

“Travelers continue to discover that SMF is an easy-to-navigate gateway to explore all that makes Northern California and its surrounding areas so special. Being able to deliver a world-class rental car experience is critical to ensuring we hit the mark on that experience. Delivering this project through an innovative public-private partnership demonstrates the commitment we have to leveraging private sector expertise and funding to enhance efficiency and outcomes.” - Cindy Nichol

The new rental car facility will be located close enough to the terminals that passengers will no longer need to ride shuttles to the facility. The new ground transportation center will be located right outside the Terminal A garage, which is connected to Terminal B via a walkway. This will centralize taxi, ride-share, and off-site shuttles.

This project is not part of SMForward, but was announced in 2023 and is an airport improvement. In June 2023, the airport was awarded funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to relocate the control tower. Congresswoman Matsui has pushed for a new tower at SMF since 2006 and made several requests to three Department of Transportation (DOT) secretaries.

The current tower is owned and operated by the FAA and was built in 1967, making it one of the oldest towers in the country. The new, 192-foot tower will be placed in another location on the airport’s north side. Construction is projected to begin in 2026.

“Today’s announcement has taken over a decade of dedication and collaboration – and I am proud that we have secured this funding to build our new air traffic control tower at SMF.” Congresswoman Matsui added, “From the initial planning and design all the way to today’s announcement, I have fought to ensure that decisionmakers at the highest levels understood the importance of getting this project to the finish line. Cindy and her team are always looking at new ways to improve the travel experience and safety of our airport. That’s why I have been such a strong, long-time advocate for robust federal investments in their work. This new tower will continue to build on that progress and ensure our airport remains the gold standard for the nation.”

The cost of the new tower is estimated to be between $60 and $80 million. All the funding will come from infrastructure grants.

Link to article here.