Burgers on the Fly
Whataburger touches down at San Antonio airport next spring
A new eatery is landing at the San Antonio International Airport, and it’s coming in hot.
The newest restaurant that will serve hungry travelers on the go at the airport is none other than revered Texas hamburger joint Whataburger.
Officials from the City of San Antonio, Whataburger, and franchise partner and airport restaurateur Paradies Lagardère revealed Tuesday, August 24 — after teasing info about the anticipated new airport eatery — that the fast-food chain will open early next year.
The new Whataburger will be located in the food court of Terminal A and will feature a “state-of-the-art kitchen” and a custom art wall to honor San Antonio landmarks, according to airport reps. It will serve up jobs for more than 50 local employees, with hiring beginning in spring 2022.
“We are excited to welcome Whataburger to the airport family. We listened to what our customers wanted and they asked for the famous orange and white stripes of Whataburger,” says Jesus H. Saenz Jr., director of airports for the San Antonio Airport System.
While it only makes sense to feature San Antonio-based Whataburger at the local airport, it seemingly took a while to land the much-loved burger chain. In fact, Austin’s airport scored a Whataburger first, with the company opening an outpost there in January.
But with almost $3 billion in annual sales and an ever-expanding portfolio of burger locations — including 700 eateries in Texas, by far the state with the most restaurants — Whataburger may have been destined to touch down at SAT.
“Whataburger is a global brand, a hometown favorite, and it’s based right here in San Antonio. This is a familiar brand and a great addition to our airport’s restaurant concessions,” says San Antonio city manager Erik Walsh via a release.
While those who travel through SAT (recently named one of the best airports in the world) will no doubt appreciate the ability to snag a Whataburger patty melt, double-meat Whataburger, or drizzly and delicious Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich, the new airport eatery is also sure to be a boon for Whataburger, especially given that the airport moves millions of passengers through its gates annually.
Says Ed Nelson, president and CEO of Whataburger: “Bringing Whataburger to our hometown airport is a great way to serve fans and introduce our freshness and big flavors to visitors.”
