The new Terminal One at San Diego International Airport is already proving itself, handling the busiest travel season of the year just a little more than three months after opening. Airport officials say up to 85,000 people traveled through the airport each day during the holiday rush. Between De c. 19 and Jan. 5, roughly 1.4 million people were expected to fly in and out of San Diego, making it one of the terminal’s first major stress tests. Many travelers experienced the new terminal for the first time. “It was super easy. I really thought it was easy compared to going all the way around the world,” said Terasha Webb, who was visiting from Indiana. Webb said the biggest difference compared to the old Terminal One was the layout and space. “I think it’s the ease and the openness for me,” Webb said. Airport officials agree that the added space has altered the overall feel of the terminal. “That extra space, that light, that kind of airy, happy feeling,” said Nicole Hall, a spokeswoman for San Diego International Airport. Not everything has been seamless. Drivers are still adjusting to the new roadway entrance off Harbor Drive. Officials say congestion has built up as some drivers stop in the lane closest to the curb at arrivals instead of using all available lanes. “They suddenly stopped right at that pink jellyfish, which created a congestion,” Hall said. Travelers will also continue to see blue construction fencing for the next couple of years as work continues on the next phase of Terminal One. The airport plans to add 11 more gates by 2028, bringing Terminal 1’s total to 30 gates. The second phase will also connect Terminal One to Terminal Two and add 13 new dining options. For travelers like Webb, the changes are already making a difference. “This was the easiest because just coming right out the door was nice. Super nice,” Webb said. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less