Will New Terminal B Be Bad For Existing Businesses?

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) -- We're just nine days from the opening, but there are some people who say the new Terminal B at Sacramento International Airport could be bad for businesses operating next door.

Today Terminal B is the proverbial ugly step-sister to the bustling Central Terminal A.

This is where most of the goodbyes happen, and where most people spend their money before boarding.

"I love the restaurants here when we come through," one traveler said.

But when the clock strikes midnight next Thursday, the tables will turn. The bigger, better, billion dollar Terminal B will be the focus of attention.

It will also get the largest carrier at Sac International, when Southwest moves over.

"It's going to be about 60 percent of traffic here, 40 percent there, the opposite of before," said airport spokeswoman Karen Doron.

While Delta and U.S. Airways will stay in Terminal A along with the addition of United Airlines, all three combined bring in less than a third of the passengers of mega carrier Southwest.

Southwest had 1,491,288 travelers at Sac International this year through August. United was next with 194,698

The airport expects business in Terminal A will drop about 60 percent after the airline leaves. And if businesses can't make money, they may not be able to contribute to airport revenue sharing that's part of their lease contract.

Ironically money from revenue sharing is helping to pay for the new terminal.

"There's some concern from the retailers, but like I said we're working with them to ensure they still make money," Doron said.