Airport Community Open House on June 26-27
We're so proud of our spectacular new airport, we want to show it off. So for two days only, Saturday and Sunday, June 26 and 27, we’re hosting a free Grand Opening Community Open House.
Everyone is invited, but space is limited. You must pre-register online using the link below by Wednesday, June 23, to enter the airport during the open house weekend. Fill in the required information for each visitor, including children. This is an operating airport, so the same security regulations that apply to passengers flying apply to the community open house visitors.
When you pre-register, you will select a specific time for your visit. You will need to bring your registration confirmation for admission to the free parking area in the new rental car center. You will get your "boarding pass" for your visit when you arrive at Terminal B for the open house. All guests will be required to go through security screening at Terminal B and must have a current government-issued photo I.D. Click here to pre-register for your selected date and time.
Three more Terminal B gates now open for Southwest Airlines
The Airport activated three more gates in Terminal B Concourse Wednesday morning, June 16, bringing the total number of gates that have opened in the new building to nine. Southwest Airlines now is operating entirely within the new Concourse on Gates 19 through 25. Gates 17 and 18 are being prepared for Delta Airlines when it moves in the night of June 29.
All of Terminal B Concourse is now open to passengers and the temporary wall dividing the concourse has been removed. At the end of June Southwest will move out of its Terminal A ticketing lobby and into Terminal B when it is fully open for service. This will be the end the temporary long walk for Southwest passengers from Terminal A to the new gates.
However, until June 30, Southwest Airlines passengers still have a long walk between Gate 25, the furthest open gate in our new Terminal B Concourse, and the Terminal A checkpoint and baggage claim area. During this interim period, the Airport is operating a courtesy cart between Gates 17 and 25 as a convenience to the Southwest passengers. Any passenger who might need assistance between Gate 17 and Ticketing and/or Bag Claim should ask a Southwest Airlines ticket agent or gate agent, or call Southwest from an airport white courtesy telephone to arrange for help.
SJC’s new Terminal B will open for service on Wednesday, June 30
On June 30, Alaska, and Delta Airlines will begin full operations in Terminal B, joining Southwest in the new building. All other carriers will be in Terminal A, and US Airways will move from Terminal C to Terminal A at the same time.
The airport has changed dramatically to make the experience far more comfortable and convenient for you. Old landmarks have been replaced by new buildings and roadways, so please allow a little time so you can get your bearings and explore the new terminal features. For more information on Airport changes, maps, and services, go to www.flysanjose.com.
Although all our major new terminal improvements will be in service on June 30, the overall modernization program will continue with the demolition of Terminal C this summer and the construction of new surface parking lots near Terminal B over the coming year. The entire modernization program is scheduled for completion by next spring 2011.
New Rental Car Center to open on June 30
The most convenient airport rental car center in the nation will open for business on Wednesday morning, June 30, right across the street from new Terminal B. All of SJC rental car companies will be relocated to the new center, and they will all use the same handy customer service lobby.
The consolidated rental car center will allow the Airport’s rental car companies to operate much efficiently, especially with the first “quick-turn-around” facility in the nation to open with indoor fueling stations and carwash racks operating on three elevated levels. The new structure has the “Hands” artwork on its east façade facing Highway 87, and it also has 320 short-term parking spaces on the ground level for Terminal B parking.
TSA now has full-body scanners at SJC
SJC has received eight “advanced imaging technology” units (full-body scanners) from TSA forthe security checkpoints – four in Terminal A and four in Terminal B. San José is among the first eleven airports this year to get the new equipment that was purchased under the federal economic stimulus program in order to strengthen security at airports throughout the country.
Advanced imaging technology is designed to bolster security by safely screening passengers for metallic and non-metallic threats, including weapons, explosives and other objects concealed under layers of clothing. TSA will ensure passenger privacy through the anonymity of AIT images. A privacy filter is applied to blur all images; images are permanently deleted immediately once viewed and are never stored, transmitted or printed; and the TSA officer viewing the image is stationed in a remote location and does not come into contact with passengers being screened. Go to advanced imaging technology at TSA for more information.
Terminal A baggage system successfully activated
The new baggage handling system in Terminal A began operations successfully last week. Airport staff and contractors and TSA continue to fine tune the new system and equipment in preparation for the opening of the Terminal B baggage system on Wednesday, June 30.
The activation of the baggage handling system was a very significant milestone for the SJC modernization program, and its smooth start-up is a reflection of the tremendous work, collaboration, and skill from the Airport and its many partners. SJC now has installed the most technologically advanced baggage screening equipment in the world with equipment that no other airport has deployed yet, and the new system here will become the new standard for airports.
Airport Public Art Progress
The installation of three of the permanent art works at the new Airport has been completed. These include:
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the 1200-foot long “Hands” on the east façade of the new Rental Car Center;
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“Space Observer,” a glossy white 26’ tall interactive sculpture standing on eight-foot long tripod legs on the Terminal B mezzanine; and
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“eCloud,” a set of thousands of switchable glass squares suspended from the Terminal B Concourse ceiling by the food court that continuously change from opaque to transparent with the transmission of real-time weather data from San Jose and cities around the world.
Substantial progress also has been made on the rotating artwork installations throughout Terminal B, including a suspended sculpture over the baggage claim area and audio artworks in the jetways.
Safety Reminder
Construction equipment continues to use airport roads. As always, please watch out for other drivers, pedestrians, and construction workers. Airport parking control and traffic officers are there to help keep traffic flowing safely, so please pay attention to them, too, especially during peak times. And please, pedestrians should never walk through construction zones – follow the designated walkways.
Airport Construction "Hot Line" at (408) 501-0630
For current information about construction impacts to the airport, call (408) 501-0630. We regularly update the recorded message to help our passengers as we make changes affecting roads, terminals, and parking at SJC.
Airport Construction Update is produced by the Marketing and Communications Division at Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport. We welcome your comments. If you’re not already on the mailing list for this publication, you can subscribe by going to www.sjc.org. 