More than 5,000 people visited the new Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport during the community open house, Sunday.
Nicole Hall, the SAN public information officer, told NBC 7 “that (number) far exceeds what we anticipated.” The $3.8 billion project will replace the much smaller, older terminal next door that opened in 1967.
“We wanted to build a terminal that would really accommodate all travelers. So, we created it with customer service in mind,” Hall said.
For three hours Sunday morning, visitors were invited to roam the more than a million square foot facility.
The upgrades include soaring ceilings, and 19 additional departure and arrival gates with more coming later when the entire terminal is completed in 2028.
There are art installations everywhere.
A giant painted stainless steel jellyfish greets travelers arriving to the new parking plaza. Matthew Mazzotta is the east coast artist who created it. He has lots of family in Ocean Beach.
“I’m often here and when I get done with my work I go down and sit on the beach with my little camp chair and look at the sunset. I’ve merged the sunsets of San Diego with the purple striped jellyfish,” Mazzotta said.
“I love the architecture and the aesthetic here is amazing,” said Sophia Sanford who traveled with her sister and parents from Allied Gardens to experience
Sophia Sanford and her family drove from Allied Gardens to see the new terminal. They got a little lost along the way. Her mother, Crystal Sanford, said, “I was navigating and got a little turned around with getting to the actual parking plaza. But, once we got to it, there were tons of spaces.” The new parking plaza has added 2,834 parking spaces.
The new Terminal 1 will also have improved food and retail concessions and a baggage system capable of handling 2,000 bags per hour during peak periods.
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