San José Airport Terminal C Baggage Claim
Closes Tuesday, February 2
Passengers will use new Terminal B carousels;
Activation of first part of new terminal before full opening in June

SAN JOSE --- Starting Tuesday morning, February 2, passengers at Mineta San José International Airport arriving on flights at Terminal C will pick up their luggage at the new Terminal B baggage claim area, right next door to the Terminal C ticketing counters.

The early use of Terminal B is a temporary arrangement that will continue for all carriers remaining in Terminal C until the old terminal closes this summer. This change will affect passengers on flights currently arriving on Alaska Airlines, Delta Airlines, Horizon Air, US Airways, and Frontier Airlines.

Frontier is scheduled to move to Terminal A in early March, and those passengers will then use Terminal A for ticketing, security, and baggage claim.

Taxi service for Terminal C also will move next week to the ground transportation median island directly across the road from the Terminal C security checkpoint and ticketing areas. The Terminal C stop for the VTA #10 Flyer bus service to VTA light rail Metro station and the Santa Clara Caltrain station also will move closer to the Terminal C security checkpoint.

The switch to the Terminal B baggage claim system will clear the way for the demolition of the Terminal C baggage claim building, currently scheduled to take place in February and March. This step is necessary to complete the airport’s new loop roadway that runs in front of the terminals.

“Although the rest of our new terminal won’t open until June, using Terminal B now instead of installing temporary equipment in Terminal C helps us reduce the overall construction cost of our modernization program,” said Dave Maas, SJC Deputy Director.

“It will be a nice opportunity for travelers and the public to get an early peek at the inside of this beautiful new building before we open it altogether.”

Work in Terminal B will continue behind temporary walls while the new baggage area is in use. The first flight from Terminal B is scheduled for Wednesday, June 30.

The remaining airlines in Terminal C will be relocated to either Terminal A or Terminal B when the new terminal opens. Terminal C, SJC’s oldest terminal, will then be demolished over the summer months to clear the site for a surface parking lot that will serve the newest terminal at San José.

About the SJC Terminal Area Improvement Program
SJC’s comprehensive $1.3 billion terminal area improvement program involves the modernization and replacement of the airport’s terminal facilities, including the construction of new Terminal B and Terminal B Concourse that will take the place of Terminal C, originally built in 1965. The program also includes transformation of Terminal A to provide more spacious and comfortable waiting areas, new ticketing area, and faster security check-in systems. Terminal A improvements will be completed in February.

The current program also includes a new 3,350-space rental car and public parking garage directly in front of Terminal B; expanded space for more options for quality food, beverage, and retail services; an extensive public art program; and improved roadways providing more convenient access to the airport.

The overall modernization program is now ahead of schedule and under budget for completion by the end of 2010, and Terminal B is scheduled to open for service on June 30, 2010.

About Mineta San José International Airport
Mineta San José International Airport, a self-supporting enterprise, is owned and operated by the City of San José. SJC served 8.4 million passengers and handled approximately in 2008. SJC has approximately 130 flights a day on 13 domestic and international carriers to 27 nonstop destinations. Mineta San José International Airport is located in San José, California’s third largest city and the nation’s tenth largest city (population 1,007,000). For more Airport information, visit www.flysanjose.com.

-SJC-

1732 N. First Street, Suite 600, San José, CA 95112-4538 24 Hour Media Line: 408.501.7700