First Flight Takes Off As New Terminal B Opens At Sac Int'l Airport

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – It's official. The new Terminal B at Sacramento International Airport is open.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place early Thursday morning. And less than two hours later, the first flight left the new terminal.

Southwest flight 3692 to Portland pushed back, taxied through a water canon salute and took flight at 5:56 a.m. American flight 1878 left about ten minutes later.

The new terminal actually began operation last night for some passengers.

A little after 9:00 Wednesday night, some flights actually dropped off arriving passengers to the new terminal and the baggage area got its first real time test.

Getting the new terminal open involved a challenging ballet of logistics overnight.

Planes had to be towed from the old terminal B to the new terminal B.

There was a steady steam of tow trucks moving the planes and other support equipment all through the night to get ready for this morning.

Another part of the move overnight has been outside the new terminal in the parking lots and approach roads.

Airport crews scrambled to move signs and road blocks.

Entire new areas are opening up for parking near terminal B.

The new terminal is also linked by a bridge to the terminal A parking lot.