San Diego International Airport (SAN)

San Diego International Airport (IATA: SAN, FAA: SAN) serves as the primary commercial airport for San Diego County and the greater Southern California border region. Located just 3 miles northwest of downtown San Diego at 3225 N Harbor Drive, SAN operates within one of the most constrained urban airport footprints in the United States — a single runway shared by commercial, military, and general aviation traffic on a 661-acre site bordered by San Diego Bay, Interstate 5, and the Middletown neighborhood.

Despite its compact layout, San Diego International Airport is among the busiest single-runway airports in the world, handling over 25 million passengers annually. The airport is operated by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority and serves as a major connecting hub for Southwest Airlines, which operates the highest number of daily departures from SAN. Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and numerous international carriers including British Airways (nonstop to London Heathrow) and Lufthansa (nonstop to Frankfurt) also maintain significant operations here.

SAN features two primary terminals — Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 — connected airside via the central Commuter Terminal. Terminal 2 houses the majority of gates and was significantly renovated as part of the airport's ongoing Green Build expansion project, which added 10 new gates, a consolidated rental car facility, and improved roadway infrastructure. A major Terminal 1 replacement project, approved by the Airport Authority, is currently underway to modernize the aging west terminal with expanded concourse space, updated passenger amenities, and improved ground transportation access.

The airport sits at an elevation of 17 feet above sea level and benefits from San Diego's mild Mediterranean climate, averaging fewer than 10 days of significant weather delays per year. Runway 09/27, measuring 9,401 feet in length, accommodates wide-body aircraft including Boeing 777, 787, and Airbus A330 equipment used on international long-haul routes. Flight paths over Mission Hills and North Park create one of the most recognizable urban approach corridors in U.S. aviation, with aircraft descending visibly over downtown rooftops.

Ground transportation options at SAN are extensive. The Metropolitan Transit System's Route 992 provides direct bus service between the airport and the Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego, with connections to the Trolley light rail network. Rideshare pickup and dropoff is consolidated on the arrivals level of both terminals. The Rental Car Center, located off-site at 3355 Admiral Boland Way, is accessible via a free shuttle that departs every few minutes from the arrivals curb. Taxis, shared shuttles, and private car services operate from designated zones on the lower level roadway.

San Diego International Airport's cargo operations, while secondary to its passenger focus, support regional logistics for biotech, defense, and trade industries along the U.S.-Mexico border corridor. The airport coordinates with Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) across the border, which is accessible via the Cross Border Xpress pedestrian bridge — a unique binational terminal connection that allows SAN-area travelers to access Tijuana flights without a traditional border crossing.

Parking at SAN includes the Terminal 2 Parking Plaza, the Economy Lot accessible via shuttle, and a network of off-airport private facilities. Real-time parking availability is posted on the airport's website and on digital signs along the Harbor Drive approach. For passengers traveling light, TSA PreCheck and CLEAR lanes are available at both terminal security checkpoints, significantly reducing screening times during peak morning and evening rush periods.

San Diego International Airport - SAN Contact Information

Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Ellensburg, Washington.

Name San Diego International Airport - SAN
Address 3225 North Harbor Drive, San Diego CA 92101 Map
Phone (619) 400-2404
Website
Hours

Map of San Diego International Airport - SAN

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Frequently Asked Questions — San Diego International Airport (SAN)

San Diego International Airport (SAN) offers nonstop international service to several destinations. British Airways operates nonstop flights to London Heathrow (LHR), and Lufthansa serves Frankfurt (FRA) directly. Aeromexico, Volaris, and VivaAerobus provide frequent nonstop service to multiple Mexican cities including Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Cancun. WestJet connects SAN nonstop to Calgary and Vancouver. International service has expanded steadily since the Terminal 2 Green Build project added gate capacity.

MTS Bus Route 992 (the Flyer) runs directly between both SAN terminals and the downtown Santa Fe Depot on Broadway, typically every 15–30 minutes. The fare is standard MTS pricing and the ride takes approximately 10–15 minutes. From Santa Fe Depot you can connect to the Blue, Green, and Orange Trolley lines, the Coaster commuter rail to North County, and the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner. This is the most cost-effective public transit option for reaching the Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park, or the Convention Center.

San Diego International Airport operates with a single runway (09/27) due to its location on a narrow peninsula between San Diego Bay and the Cabrillo Freeway corridor, leaving no room for parallel runway construction. Despite this constraint, SAN handles over 500 daily operations by tightly sequencing arrivals and departures. Delays are less common than at multi-runway airports because San Diego's dry Mediterranean climate produces minimal weather disruptions. However, during rare marine layer events or National Guard exercises at the co-located Air National Guard base, sequencing delays can occur. The airport has invested in advanced surface management technology to maximize throughput on the single runway.

Cross Border Xpress (CBX) is a privately operated pedestrian bridge and terminal facility connecting Otay Mesa in San Diego directly to Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) in Mexico. It is located approximately 20 miles southeast of SAN at 2745 Otay Pacific Drive, San Diego, CA 92173. Travelers with valid same-day Tijuana flight tickets and appropriate travel documents can use CBX to access Tijuana's full flight network — including low-cost connections throughout Mexico and Latin America — without going through a traditional vehicle border crossing. This makes CBX a practical option for San Diego residents seeking fares not available at SAN.

The San Diego Airport Authority approved a full replacement of the aging Terminal 1 facility, which dates to the 1960s. The new Terminal 1 is being built as a modern, consolidated concourse with approximately 30 gates, expanded dining and retail, improved TSA checkpoint layouts, and better roadway access from Harbor Drive. Construction is phased to allow continued airline operations throughout the build. The project represents one of the largest capital investments in San Diego airport history and is intended to bring Terminal 1 capacity and passenger experience in line with the already-renovated Terminal 2. Check the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority website for current phase completion timelines.

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