Air Service One talks with, Hampton Brown, Vice President Revenue, Marketing, and Innovation / CRO at San Diego County Regional Airport Authority

Air Service One recently attended this year’s ACI-NA JumpStart conference, an annual event that brings airports and airlines together from across North America.  We caught up with Hampton Brown, Vice President Revenue, Marketing, and Innovation / CRO at San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, a veteran of the aviation industry of over 20 years and one of the most familiar faces of the air service development sector.

Hampton talks about the exciting developments at San Diego International Airport, the focus on network expansion, in addition to a few back stories about his fondness for British Airways and destinations on the horizon!

San Diego International Airport was close to its pre-pandemic figures last year. Could you tell us how is traffic developing so far in 2024 and will the airport outperform its end-of-year 2019 record?

From January through April 2024, passenger volumes at SAN increased by 3% compared to the same time in 2023 and is at 98% of 2019 passenger volumes during this same period. Growth is anticipated to continue throughout summer 2024, particularly with international travel, due to an increase in seat capacity on carriers with routes to Europe. We expect that international travel will grow robustly and domestic travel will show solid growth in the coming years.  We are particularly pleased that San Diego – Europe passengers grew post-pandemic to record levels.

 

One of the biggest developments at San Diego Airport is the new terminal 1. Can you tell us more about the project and when is the first phase expected to open to passengers?

San Diego International Airport is currently under construction on a new Terminal 1 (New T1). The first phase of the New T1 will open to the public in late summer 2025 and will include 19 gates, an elevated departures roadway, outdoor check-in pavilions, a dedicated, on-airport arrivals roadway, and a five-story parking plaza.

The New T1 Parking Plaza will open in two stages:

• The first stage of the New T1 Parking Plaza will open in late summer 2024, offering approximately 2,800 parking spaces.
• The second stage of the New T1 Parking Plaza will open in 2025 when the New T1 facility opens and will add another 2,400 spaces.

The second phase of the New T1 facility will open in 2028 and will add 11 gates bringing the total gates at SAN to 62.

The Airport Authority began construction on the New T1 in November 2021. The New T1’s project budget is $3.8 billion and is estimated to create between 15,000 to 20,000 construction-related jobs.

What are some of the geographical areas you are looking into in terms of network expansion and which unserved markets have the most potential?

San Diego International Airport is strategically focusing on several key geographical areas across the world to enhance our service offerings and meet the growing demands of our region. Latin America is one of the biggest gaps in our network, with San Diego being one of the largest unserved markets in the United States to Central and South America. In addition, we are looking to establish further gateways to Europe to cater to our increasing transatlantic demand. San Diego travel demand to Europe is nearly three times the current capacity at SAN. With more options of air service to Europe, it would allow for greater access to the region. We are also pursuing a second gateway to Asia to enhance our connectivity to this vital region. Expanding into Asia would support the growing economic and cultural ties between San Diego and various Asian countries, providing for increased local and connecting demand. Domestically, our primary focus is on securing nonstop service to DCA, the largest unserved US domestic market.

San Diego is home to the largest concentration of military assets in the world and the largest federal military workforce in the country. Outside of the Washington D.C. market, San Diego is the largest US government travel city, with an estimated 382,000 General Services Administration (GSA) trips projected for 2024. By targeting these unserved and underserved markets, San Diego International Airport aims to improve connectivity, support regional economic growth, and provide our passengers with more travel options and convenience.

 

San Diego operates in a very competitive environment. What sets the airport apart from other nearby airports in California?

San Diego International Airport operates in a highly competitive environment, and several factors set it apart from other nearby airports in California. One of the unique attributes of SAN is its status of one of the few remaining downtown airports left in the United States. Located just three miles from the city center, SAN offers unparalleled convenience for travellers, providing quick access to key destinations such as the top-rated Convention Center on the west coast, major corporate offices, and renowned tourist attractions that define San Diego. Furthermore, SAN’s new International Arrivals facility enhances the passenger experience by being exceptionally customer friendly, effortless, and timesaving. This facility alleviates many of the inconveniences commonly encountered at other international airports in California. Lastly, SAN offers flights to 84 destinations, ensuring that residents and visitors can reach all regions of the United States. With a wide range of air carriers and numerous flight options throughout the day, we are committed to meeting the diverse needs of our passengers’ schedules. These features collectively make SAN a preferred choice for travellers seeking convenience, efficiency, and a wide array of travel options.

 

Have the ongoing supply chain issues in the aviation sector and issues affecting aircraft manufacturers had an impact on San Diego Airport’s performance?

Like most airports, San Diego’s air service network has been impacted by aviation resource shortages – from aircraft delivery delays to pilot shortage.  Impacts have affected both the domestic and international networks from SAN either through delayed service starts or reduced flight schedules.  We are, however, optimistic that the issues are becoming less impactful.

San Diego Airport has a good balance of low cost and full fare legacy carriers. What is the secret in keeping both types of airlines and meeting their demands?

I think a lot of the credit to having diverse airlines in a city like San Diego has to do with the diversity of its offerings and economy.  If you think about it, there are a lot of reasons to either visit San Diego or for San Diegan’s to enjoy what the nation and the world has to offer in travel.  Our economy has key sectors that foster a robust and diverse set of airlines and no one airline has a dominant share of the traffic.  This makes San Diego fortunate to benefit from airline and fare diversity.

 

AIR SERVICE FUN:

Do you remember your first flight, and if so, what was it?

I was very young, but I do remember one of the first flights I took was from Washington, D.C. to Bermuda.  A few years later, I flew from DC to San Juan and the Virgin Islands. These were memories that instilled a great love of aviation that I have to this day.

 

Favourite airline livery?

I have a fondness for British Airways as they were a carrier that invested in San Diego – London, but would have to say their BOAC livery was one of my favourites.

 

What is the best thing about living in San Diego?

The best thing about living in San Diego is being able to drive with the windows open – year round!

 

What is your favourite aircraft type of all time?

This is a hard choice, but love the lines of the Convair 880 Coronado, the VC-10 and the TU-154.

 

Any particular destination you would like to visit?

In friendlier times, I would love to visit Moscow and eventually take the trans-Siberian railroad from Europe to Asia.

 

What is the best place to visit in California outside of San Diego?

In the 1980s, I had the fortune to help a camp one summer in Mendocino County, California.  I really fell for that part of California. The pristine coastline and verdant forests in that part of California are so majestic.