“Our purpose at San Diego International is to create an exceptional airport experience for the community and the world,” Kimberly Becker, CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, said. What message does the new terminal convey to tourists landing in San Diego? Mike Patel drove to San Diego from his home in El Centro for a flight on Southwest Airlines to Dallas and was relieved to see traffic moving quickly on Tuesday morning. Of the roughly 35 U.S. airports he’s passed through, Weiner called the San Diego makeover exceptional. “It’s my first week here,” Benitez said from behind the counter of Parfait Paris, an award-winning San Diego bakery.