As the San Diego airport prepared for Terminal 1’s first full day of operations on Tuesday, the new 19-gate facility on Monday night welcomed the first of 15 flights, arriving from across the country, from San Jose and Austin to Honolulu and Denver.

The nighttime arrivals mark the official opening of the first phase of the new Terminal 1, which replaces the 1960s-era existing facility that has grown cramped and outdated. Its last flight was to take off shortly after the arrival of the new terminal’s first flight.

Deborah McCarthy, left, and Aileen Dwyer are among the passengers onboard Southwest Airlines flight 4298, the first group to arrive at the new Terminal 1 of San Diego International Airport. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Ashley Jancsek, on board the flight fro

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