Case Study
EDC quantifies $4.5B economic impact of SAN’s New T1 construction
ServiceIntelligence/Research
ServiceMarketing/Visibility
September 2025
San Diego International Airport’s New Terminal 1 (T1) replaces the 58-year-old Terminal 1 with a modern, world-class facility designed to elevate the passenger experience and meet the growing travel demands of the San Diego region.
COMPANY
SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’S CHALLENGE
As the Airport prepared for its grand opening of the New T1, it wanted to speak to the economic benefit of the highly-anticipated construction project. The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority commissioned EDC’s Research Bureau to quantify the regional economic and fiscal benefits of its New T1 construction project, beginning in 2012 and continuing through 2030.
EDC SOLUTION AND SUPPORT PROVIDED
EDC conducted a detailed economic and fiscal impact analysis of the New T1 construction project including the new terminal, capital improvement projects, and airport support facilities projects. The analysis estimates that construction of New T1 and preceding airport improvements that made the New T1 possible will add a total of $4.5 billion to the regional economy while supporting the equivalent of 37,600 job-years and generating $127 million in local tax revenues.
VALUE DERIVED
At the opening gala celebration for New T1 on September 12, 2025, the Airport Authority President and CEO Kim Becker used EDC’s data to speak to the new terminal’s amenities and service capacity as well as the economic impact the major construction project provided to the region.
More than 600 community partners and business leaders witnessed the unveiling of New T1 while learning about the economic value captured by local contractors during the buildout and the local vendors that would serve travelers for years to come.
“The San Diego community has been so supportive of the New T1, which provides the comfort, convenience, and efficiency travelers expect while reflecting the spirit of San Diego. We are grateful to EDC for helping us quantify the value of this endeavor to our local economy.”
—Kim Becker, President and CEO, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority