A new global airport travel study has revealed passenger traffic at San Antonio International Airport (SAT) sharply decreased from 2024 to 2025.

The analysis from travel magazine LocalsInsider examined recently released data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), the U.S. International Trade Association, and a nationwide survey to determine the following American traveler habits: The most popular U.S. and international destinations, emerging hotspots, and destinations on the decline. The study covered passenger travel trends from January through July 2025.

In the report's ranking of the 40 U.S. airports with the sharpest declines in passenger traffic, SAT ranked 25th on the list.

Nearly 2.94 million arrivals were reported at SAT from January through July 2024, compared to about 2.84 million during the same seven-month period in 2025. According to the data, that's a 3.4 percent drop in passenger traffic year-over-year, or a loss of 101,096 passengers.

"As travelers chase new hotspots, some destinations are seeing reduced passenger traffic whether due to rising costs, shifting airline schedules, or evolving traveler preferences, some destinations are seeing a decrease in visitors," the report's author wrote.

SAT was luckily not included on the Federal Aviation Administration's just-released list of 40 "high volume" airports that will soon see capacity cuts and flight cancellations due to the government shutdown. However, the FAA is planning to reduce reduce air traffic at Dallas Love Field Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and Houston's William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

In a Facebook post, SAT confirmed it is fully functional despite the shutdown, but warns that travelers may still be impacted by service reductions at other Texas airports.

"SAT’s security checkpoints continue to perform extremely well," the statement says. "Transportation Security Administration, US Customs and Border Protection and Air Traffic Control employees continue to perform their essential work, despite not being paid currently. The airport and its partners, such as the San Antonio Food Bank, are working hard to support SAT’s federal employees."

Passenger traffic declines elsewhere in Texas
It appears most major Texas airports had drops in passenger traffic from 2024 to 2025. Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) was the worst offender in the state with a dramatic 7.4 percent dip in arrivals. DAL also ranked 11th on the list of U.S. airports with the steepest declines in passenger traffic.

More than 5.13 million arrivals were reported at DAL from January through July 2024, compared to over 4.75 million during the same seven-month period in 2025.

This is how passenger traffic has fallen at other major Texas airports from 2024 to 2025:

Houston William P. Hobby Airport (HOU):

• 4,263,472 – Passenger arrivals from January to July 2024
• 3,962,498 – Passenger arrivals from January to July 2025
• -7.1 percent – Year-over-year passenger change

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS):

• 6,107,597 – Passenger arrivals from January to July 2024
• 5,828,396 – Passenger arrivals from January to July 2025
• -4.6 percent – Year-over-year passenger change

• 23,830,017 – Passenger arrivals from January to July 2024
• 23,251,302 – Passenger arrivals from January to July 2025
• -2.4 percent – Year-over-year passenger change

• 1,094,431 – Passenger arrivals from January to July 2024
• 1,076,845 – Passenger arrivals from January to July 2025
• -1.6 percent – Year-over-year passenger change