Park in One Country, Fly Out of Another

Fascinating facts while scanning a New York Times article on efforts to build a bridge in San Diego that would serve as a direct pedestrian border crossing to Tijuana International Airport:

  • At three other airports, passengers can park their car in one country for a flight out of another country. They are two airports on the Swiss-French border and a shuttle that runs passengers between airports in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China.
  • Annually, 2.4 million U.S. travelers use the Tijuana airport, nearly 60% of the airport’s traffic. Why? Fees are up to 50% less to fly throughout Mexico.
  • Mexico widened the San Ysidro crossing to 34 lanes in 2012; yet, substanial delays await those traveling between the two countries and at the five other border crossings in California.

The story notes that funding delays in Congress must still be overcome for development on the U.S. side of the border. Although not finalized, bridge fees are expected to range from $13 to $17. Passengers would park on the U.S. side and walk across an enclosed 325-foot passageway directly to the airport.

We’ll keep an eye on what could be an innovative solution to what is described as a too small, landlocked Lindbergh Field in San Diego.