Airport Overview
San Marcos Regional Airport (KHYI) is a public-use, City of San Marcos–owned airport managed by Texas Aviation Partners. It sits on the Interstate 35 corridor about 4 nm east of downtown San Marcos and roughly 30 miles south of Austin, making it a practical general-aviation gateway between Austin and San Antonio. The field is towered and supports a steady mix of training, charter, and corporate traffic.
Runway Capability
With a 6,330-foot primary runway (8/26) plus 5,601-foot (13/31) and 5,214-foot (17/35) crosswind runways, KHYI accommodates the full light-to-super-midsize jet range. Aircraft such as the Phenom 300, Citation XLS+, Challenger 350, and Gulfstream G280 operate routinely. Large-cabin heavy jets like the G550 or Global Express can use the field but require careful runway-performance analysis for weight, temperature, and trip length.
FBO & Ground Services
Berry Aviation is the field's full-service FBO, operating at San Marcos since 1993 from the west end of the airport. It offers Jet-A and 100LL, transient and based hangar space (about 36,000 sq ft), NATA-certified line service, and concierge handling for catering, rental cars, and lodging. Berry is also a long-established Part 135 charter operator, and Specialized Aero provides maintenance and ground handling on the field.
Charter Considerations
KHYI is a strong charter alternative to Austin-Bergstrom (AUS) for travelers headed to San Marcos, Kyle, Buda, New Braunfels, Wimberley, or south Austin, avoiding airline-terminal congestion and the longer drive from AUS. Demand peaks around Texas State University events, major Austin happenings such as SXSW and ACL, and holiday weekends; booking 7–14 days ahead secures better aircraft availability and pricing.
Safety & Planning
The airport is towered daily from 0700–2100 (San Marcos Tower, 126.825), with a terminal radar display fed from Austin TRACON for traffic sequencing. An ILS/LOC serves Runway 13 and RNAV (GPS) approaches are published to all runway ends, so all-weather access is dependable. Three runways provide excellent crosswind options. There is no on-field U.S. Customs, so international itineraries should clear at a designated port of entry such as Austin or San Antonio.
Seasonal & Operational Factors
Central Texas weather is the main scheduling variable. Spring and early summer bring afternoon convective storms that typically build between mid-afternoon and early evening, so morning departures are the most reliable. Heat and humidity raise density altitude on summer afternoons—manageable at this 595-foot field but worth factoring into heavy-jet takeoff numbers. Cooler months generally offer the steadiest flying conditions.
Regional Context
Texas has more public airports than any other state, and KHYI's position midway between Austin and San Antonio on I-35 makes it a useful reliever for both metros. It complements Austin Executive (KEDC) and Austin-Bergstrom (KAUS) to the north and San Antonio-area fields to the south, giving charter clients flexible options for runway length, ground access, and FBO choice across the corridor.