San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco International Airport
source
Name	San Francisco International Airport
IATA	SFO
ICAO	KSFO
FAA	SFO
Owner	City and County of San Francisco
Operator	San Francisco Airport Commission
City-served	San Francisco Bay Area
Location	San Mateo County, California
Opened	15 March 1927
Hub	Alaska Airlines, United Airlines
Elevation-f	13
Coordinates	37, 37, 08, N...
Website	https://www.flysfo.com/

San Francisco International Airport is a major international gateway on the West Coast of the United States, located in San Mateo County, California, approximately 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco. Owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco, it serves as a primary hub for United Airlines and a focus city for Alaska Airlines. The airport is renowned for its iconic International Terminal and its role as a key transpacific and transatlantic connection point.

History

The airport's origins trace back to 1927 when it opened as Mills Field Municipal Airport, named for the land's donor, Ogden L. Mills. Significant expansion occurred during the 1930s under the Works Progress Administration, and by the 1950s, the facility was renamed to its current title to reflect its growing international stature. The post-war jet age spurred the construction of the Central Terminal and parallel runways, while the 1980s saw the completion of the International Terminal to accommodate wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 747. Major redevelopment projects, including the construction of Terminal 2 and the Harvey Milk Terminal 1, have continued to modernize the facility into the 21st century.

Facilities

The airport features four passenger terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal, which houses the Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum. Its airfield consists of four runways, two of which are closely spaced parallel runways capable of simultaneous operations in poor weather due to a Precision Runway Monitor system. Notable amenities include the SFO Museum exhibits throughout the terminals, the Airport Chapel, and the Yoga Room. The BART station at San Francisco International Airport provides a direct rail link beneath the International Terminal.

Airlines and destinations

As a global hub, it hosts a vast network of domestic carriers including United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. Internationally, it is a critical gateway for Star Alliance partners like Lufthansa and Air Canada, as well as for major Asian carriers such as Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines. The airport is a primary U.S. portal for flights to China, served by Air China and China Eastern Airlines, and to Australia via Qantas. Cargo operations feature prominent carriers like FedEx Express and UPS Airlines.

Ground transportation

The Bay Area Rapid Transit system connects the airport to downtown San Francisco, Oakland, and the wider San Francisco Bay Area via the BART station at San Francisco International Airport. Numerous SamTrans bus routes serve San Mateo County, while private shuttle services like SuperShuttle provide shared rides. The airport is directly accessible from Interstate 380 and U.S. Route 101 in California, with rental car facilities operated by companies such as Hertz and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Taxi services and app-based rideshares like Uber and Lyft utilize designated pickup areas.

Accidents and incidents

The airport has experienced several notable aviation accidents, including the 1953 crash of a Pan Am Boeing 377 near Coyote Point and the 1964 collision of a TWA Convair 880 during takeoff. A significant disaster occurred in 1971 when a Northwest Orient Airlines Boeing 727 crashed into San Bruno Mountain. The 2013 crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214, a Boeing 777, resulted in three fatalities and led to major investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board. These events have influenced safety procedures and runway design standards at airports nationwide.

Statistics

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the seventh-busiest airport in the United States by passenger count and the twenty-fourth-busiest in the world, regularly handling over 57 million passengers annually. It is a leading U.S. gateway for international travel, particularly to Asia and Europe. In terms of cargo, it ranks among the top twenty airports in the nation. The airport is a major economic engine for the San Francisco Bay Area, supporting tens of thousands of jobs through operations at United Airlines, the TSA, and numerous concessionaires. Its on-site hotel, the Grand Hyatt at SFO, is one of the largest airport hotels in the country. Category:Airports in California Category:Transportation in San Francisco Category:1927 establishments in California