TheCity andCounty ofSan Francisco first leased 150 acres (61 ha) at the present airport site on March 15, 1927, for what was then to be a temporary and experimental airport project.[6] San Francisco held a dedication ceremony at the airfield, officially named the Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco, on May 7, 1927,[7] on the 150-acre cow pasture. The land was leased from the Mills Estate in an agreement made withOgden L. Mills who oversaw the large tracts of property originally acquired by his grandfather, the bankerDarius O. Mills. San Francisco purchased the property and the surrounding area expanding the site to 1,112 acres (450 ha) beginning in August 1930.[6] The airport's name was officially changed to San Francisco Airport in 1931 upon the purchase of the land. "International" was added at the end ofWorld War II as overseas service rapidly expanded.[citation needed]
The “SFO” was derived from when the airport used to be called “San Francisco-Oakland Airport” but has since dropped the “Oakland” part of the name.
The earliest scheduled carriers at the airport includedWestern Air Express,Maddux Air Lines, and Century Pacific Lines.[6]United Airlines was formed in 1934 and quickly became the key carrier at the airport, withDouglas DC-3 service toLos Angeles andNew York beginning in January 1937. A newpassenger terminal opened in 1937, built withPublic Works Administration funding.[6] The March 1939 Official Aviation Guide shows 18 airline departures on weekdays—seventeen United flights and oneTWA flight. The August 1952 chart shows runway 1L 7,000 feet long, 1R 7,750 feet, 28L 6,500 feet, and 28R 8,870 feet.
In addition to United, Pacific Seaboard Air Lines flew between San Francisco and Los Angeles in 1933; theBellanca CH-300s flew San Francisco–San Jose–Salinas–Monterey–Paso Robles–San Luis Obispo–Santa Maria–Santa Barbara–Los Angeles.[8] Competition with United led Pacific Seaboard to move all of its operations to the eastern U.S., and rename itselfChicago and Southern Air Lines (C&S). It became a large domestic and international air carrier. Chicago & Southern was acquired by and merged intoDelta Air Lines in 1953, giving Delta its first international routes.[9] Delta used the route authority inherited from C&S to fly one of its first international services operated withConvair 880 jet aircraft from San Francisco toMontego Bay,Jamaica, andCaracas,Venezuela, via intermediate stops inDallas andNew Orleans in 1962.[10]
TWA began flyingLockheed Constellations (L-1649A's) nonstop toLondon Heathrow andParis Orly in 1957.[14][15] In 1954Qantas took over the ANA/BCPA route from SFO to Sydney; starting in 1959 theirBoeing 707s flew to Sydney via Honolulu andNadi, Fiji, and in the other direction to New York and London.[16] Pan Am scheduledBoeing 707-320s from Tokyo nonstop to SFO (winter only at first) starting in 1960–61; the westbound nonstops had to await the longer range Boeing 707-320B.British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC, a predecessor ofBritish Airways) arrived in 1957; in 1960 itsBristol Britannias flew London–New York City–San Francisco–Honolulu–Wake Island–Tokyo–Hong Kong as part of BOAC's around-the-world service.[17] By 1961 BOAC had replaced the Britannias withBoeing 707s that did not require the fuel stop at theWake Island Airfield.[18]Japan Airlines (JAL) arrived at SFO in 1954; in 1961 it was flyingDouglas DC-8s San Francisco–Honolulu–Tokyo.[19] In 1961Lufthansa had begun serving SFO with Boeing 707s flying San Francisco–MontrealDorval Airport–ParisOrly Airport–Frankfurt three days a week.[20] Lufthansa operatedBoeing 720Bs on this routing in 1963 along with Boeing 707s to Frankfurt via Montreal and LondonHeathrow Airport.[21] Pan Am/Panagra service from SFO to South America was taken over in the late 1960s byBraniff International, which operatedDouglas DC-8-62s to SFO after Braniff's acquisition of Panagra.[22] In 1970CP Air (formerlyCanadian Pacific Air Lines)Boeing 737-200s flew nonstop to Vancouver, BC, and on to Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.[23]
Opening gala at the Central Passenger Terminal on August 27, 1954
The first nonstops to the U.S. east coast were UnitedDouglas DC-7s in 1954. The airport's new Terminal Building opened on August 27, 1954. The large display of aircraft including aConvair B-36 Peacemaker bomber, was a marvel for its time.[24][25] The building became the Central Terminal with the addition of the South Terminal and the North Terminal and was heavily rebuilt as the International Terminal in 1984 and then modified again as the current Terminal 2. Domestically, the April 1957Official Airline Guide (OAG) lists 71 scheduled weekday departures on United (plus ten flights a week to Honolulu), 22 onWestern Airlines, 19 on Southwest Airways (which was later renamedPacific Air Lines), 12 onTrans World Airlines (TWA), seven onAmerican Airlines and three onPacific Southwest Airlines (PSA). As for international flights, Pan American had 21 departures a week,Japan Airlines (JAL) had five, andQantas also had five.[citation needed]
In 1968 Pacific merged withBonanza Air Lines andWest Coast Airlines to form Air West, which also had its headquarters at SFO. West Coast Airlines had served SFO mainly withDouglas DC-9-10s andFairchild F-27s to Oregon and Washington states.[29] In 1970, Air West was acquired byHoward Hughes who renamed the airlineHughes Airwest, which continued to be based at the airport where it also operated a hub. By the late 1970s, the airline was operating an all-jet fleet ofBoeing 727-200,Douglas DC-9-10, andMcDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jetliners serving an extensive route network in the western U.S. with flights to Mexico and western Canada as well.[30] Hughes Airwest was eventually acquired by Minneapolis-basedRepublic Airlines (1979–1986) in 1980 and the airline's headquarters office at SFO was closed.[citation needed]
The jet age arrived at SFO in March 1959 when TWA introducedBoeing 707-131s nonstop to New YorkIdlewild Airport (which was renamedJFK Airport in 1963). United then constructed a large maintenance facility in San Francisco for its newDouglas DC-8s, which were also flying nonstop to New York. In July 1959 the firstjetway bridge was installed at SFO, one of the first in the United States. On the cover of January 3, 1960, American Airlines timetable contained this message: "NOW! 707 JET FLAGSHIP SERVICE – NONSTOP SAN FRANCISCO – NEW YORK: 2 FLIGHTS DAILY"[31] Also in 1960, Western Airlines was operating "champagne flights" withBoeing 707s andLockheed L-188 Electras to Los Angeles, Seattle, San Diego and Portland, Oregon.[32]
In 1961 the airport had helicopter service onSan Francisco and Oakland Helicopter Airlines (known as SFO Helicopter Airlines, and as SFO Helicopter) with 68 flights a day. Helicopters flew from SFO to downtown heliports in San Francisco and Oakland, to a new heliport near theBerkeley Marina and toOakland Airport (OAK). In its timetable, SFO Helicopter Airlines, which was based at the airport, described its rotorcraft as "modern, jet turbine poweredSikorsky S-62 ten passenger amphibious helicopters".[33][34]
By 1962Delta Air Lines was flyingConvair 880s to SFO on one its first international jet services, San Francisco–Dallas Love Field–New Orleans–Montego Bay, Jamaica–Caracas, Venezuela.[10] Also in 1962,National Airlines began flyingDouglas DC-8s San Francisco–HoustonHobby Airport–New Orleans–Miami.[35] SFO was among the first airports in the United States to installmoving walkways inside a terminal. A 450-foot (140 m) set opened on May 20, 1964, in Concourse B and was the world's longest moving walkways at the time.[36]
San Francisco International Airport at night in November 2005
The airport closed following theLoma Prieta earthquake on October 17, 1989, reopening the following morning.[39] Minor damage to the runways was quickly repaired.[40]
In 1989, a master plan andEnvironmental Impact Report were prepared to guide development over the next two decades.[41]During the boom of the 1990s and thedot-com boom SFO became the sixthbusiest airport in the world, but since 2001, when the boom ended, SFO has fallen out of the top 20.[42] United Express turboprops were scheduled 60 minutes apart to the shuttle connecting passengers between SFO and nearbySan Jose International Airport during the boom era.[citation needed] United Groundlink supplemented this service with alternate 60-minute frequencies.
San Francisco International Terminal at night in November 2009
A $2.4 billion International Terminal Complex opened in December 2000, replacing Terminal 2 (known then as the International Terminal).[25] The new International Terminal includes the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Museum and Library and the Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, as part of the SFO Museum.[43] SFO's long-running museum exhibition program, now called SFO Museum, won unprecedented accreditation by theAmerican Alliance of Museums in 1999.[44]
SFO experiences delays (known asflow control) in overcast weather when only two of the airport's four runways can be used at a time because the centerlines of the parallel runway sets (01R/01L and 28R/28L) are only 750 feet (230 m) apart. Airport planners advanced proposals that would extend the airport's runways by adding up to 2 square miles (1,300 acres; 520 ha) of fill toSan Francisco Bay and increase their separation by up to 4,300 feet (1,300 m) in 1998 to accommodate arrivals and departures during periods of low visibility. Other proposals included three floating runways, each approximately 12,000 feet (3,700 m) long and 1,000 feet (300 m) wide.[45] The airport would be required by law to restore Bay land elsewhere in the Bay Area to offset the fill. One mitigation proposal would have the airport purchase and restore the 29,000 acres (12,000 ha) of South Bay wetlands owned byCargill Salt to compensate for the new fill.[46][47] These expansion proposals met resistance from environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, fearing damage to the habitat of animals near the airport, recreational degradation (such as windsurfing) and bay water quality.[46][48]
State SenatorJohn L. Burton introduced SB 1562 on February 18, 2000, to bypass the environmental impact study that would normally be required for a large project like the proposed Bay fill and mitigation in order to expedite construction. SB 1562 was signed into law on September 29, 2000.[49][50] A study commissioned by the airport and released in 2001 stated that alternatives to airport expansion, such as redirecting traffic to other regional airports (Oakland or San Jose), capping the number of flights, or charging higher landing fees at selected times of the day would result in higher fares and poorer service.[51] However, the proposal to build new runways on Bay fill continued to attract opposition from environmental groups and local residents.[52] The airport expansion cost was estimated atUS$1,400,000,000 (equivalent to $2,700,000,000 in 2024) in 1998,[53] rising toUS$2,200,000,000 (equivalent to $4,150,000,000 in 2024) a year later, including an estimate ofUS$200,000,000 (equivalent to $378,000,000 in 2024) for the Cargill wetlands purchase and restoration.[54]
The delays during poor weather (among other reasons) caused some airlines, especiallylow-cost carriers such asSouthwest Airlines, to shift all of their services from SFO to theOakland andSan Jose airports. However, Southwest eventually returned to San Francisco in 2007.[55]
A long-planned extension of theBay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system to the airport opened on June 22, 2003, allowing passengers to board BART trains at the international or domestic terminals and have direct rail transportation to downtownSan Francisco,Oakland, and theEast Bay.[56] On February 24, 2003, theAirTrain people mover opened, transporting passengers between terminals, parking lots, the BART station, and the rental car center on small automatic trains.
SFO became the base of operations for start-up airlineVirgin America, with service to over 20 destinations. On October 4, 2007, anAirbus A380 jumbo jet made its first visit to SFO.[57] On July 14, 2008, SFO was voted Best International Airport in North America for 2008 in the World Airports Survey bySkytrax.[58] The following year on June 9, Skytrax announced SFO as the second-best International Airport in North America in the 2009 World Airports Survey, losing toDallas/Fort Worth International Airport.[59]
New control tower (photographed in April 2018)
In response to longstandingFAA concerns that the airport's air trafficcontrol tower, located atop Terminal 2, could not withstand a major earthquake, on July 9, 2012, crews broke ground for a new torch-shaped tower.[60] The new tower is located between Terminals 1 and 2, and the base of the tower building contains passages between the two terminals for passengers both pre- and post-security screening, which dictated the narrow tower base.[61] Originally scheduled for completion in the summer of 2016 at a cost of $102 million, the new tower began operations on October 15, 2016.[62]
SFO was one of several US airports that operated theRegistered Traveler program from April 2007 until funding ended in June 2009. This program let travelers who had paid for pre-screening pass through security checkpoints quickly.[63][64] Baggage and passenger screening is operated byCovenant Aviation Security, aTransportation Security Administration contractor, nicknamed "Team SFO". SFO was the first airport in the United States to integrate in-line baggage screening into itsbaggage handling system and has been a model for other airports since theSeptember 11 attacks in 2001.
In September 2018, SFO announced plans to use sustainable fuels after signing an agreement with fuel suppliers, airlines, and agencies.[65] As part of the agreement,Shell andSkyNRG began supplyingsustainable aviation fuel toKLM,SAS, andFinnair flights operating out of SFO.[66][67]
On August 6, 2024, SFO unveiled a new logo and brand identity, retiring its current logo after 24 years of use. The logo will be phased in over several years.[69]
FAA runway diagram of SFO, with color added to terminals and runways
The airport covers 5,207 acres (21.07 km2) at anelevation of 13.1 feet (4.0 m).[2][70] It has fourasphalt runways, arranged in two intersecting sets of parallel runways:[71]
Runway 01L/19R: 7,650 ft × 200 ft (2,332 m × 61 m), surface:asphalt, has approved GPS approaches
Runway 01R/19L: 8,650 ft × 200 ft (2,637 m × 61 m), surface: asphalt,ILS/DME equipped, and has approved GPS/VOR approaches
Runway 10L/28R: 11,870 ft × 200 ft (3,618 m × 61 m), surface: asphalt, Category III ILS/DME equipped, and has approved GPS approaches
Runway 10R/28L: 11,381 ft × 200 ft (3,469 m × 61 m), surface: asphalt, ILS/DME equipped, and has approved GPS approaches[2]
Runways are named for their magnetic heading, to the nearest ten degrees; hence the runways at 14°[72] from magnetic north are 01L/01R, and the runways at 284° are 28R/28L. The layout of the parallel runways (1L/1R and 28R/28L) was established in the 1950s, and have a separation (centerline to centerline) of only 750 feet (230 m).[71]
During normal operations (approximately 81% of the time), domestic departures use Runways 1L and 1R for departure while overseas international departures and all arrivals use Runways 28L and 28R, taking advantage of the prevailing west-northwesterly wind coming through the San Bruno Gap. During periods of heavy winds or if operations atOakland International Airport conflict with SFO departures (approximately 15% of the time), Runways 1L and 1R cannot be used, and so all departures and all arrivals use Runways 28L and 28R. These configurations are known collectively as theWest Plan, and accommodate arrivals at a rate of up to 60 aircraft per hour.[71][73]
When using 28L and 28R for landing, aircraft join the final approach at DUMBA waypoint next to theDumbarton Bridge. In most circumstances, aircraft from the north or west start the approach fromDaly City, California, descend along the east or west shoreline of theSan Francisco Peninsula, and join the final after bypassing waypoints MENLO nearMenlo Park and DUMBA; aircraft from the south join the final through MENLO and DUMBA after flying over theSanta Cruz Mountains; aircraft from the east join the final approach after bypassingMilpitas, California.[74][75][76]
Under visual flight rules, aircraft may safely land side-by-side essentially simultaneously on 28L and 28R while maintaining visual separation.[71][77] When the visual approach is compromised, theWest Plan is maintained with a modification to allow aircraft landing on 28L to use Instrument Landing System (ILS) while the aircraft landing on 28R takes an offset course, monitored via high scan rate ground radar, to maintain a lateral spacing greater than 750 ft until the aircraft can maintain visual separation. Visual separation typically occurs once the aircraft has descended below the cloud deck at an altitude of 2,100 feet (640 m). This is known as the Precision Runway Monitor/Simultaneous Offset Instrument Approach and reduces the capacity to 36 arriving aircraft per hour. In poor visibility conditions, FAA instrument approach rules require aircraft to maintain lateral separation of 4,300 feet (1,300 m), meaning only one runway may be used, reducing the capacity of SFO to 25–30 arriving aircraft per hour.[71][77]
During rainstorms (approximately 4% of the time), the prevailing winds shift to asouth-southeasterly direction, and departing aircraft use Runways 10L and 10R, and arriving aircraft use Runways 19L and 19R. This configuration is known as theSoutheast Plan.[71][78]
On rare occasions (less than one day per year, on average), wind conditions dictate other runway configurations, including departures and landings on Runways 10L and 10R, departures and landings on Runways 1L and 1R, and departures on Runways 19L and 19R and landings on Runways 28L and 28R.
In the year ending February 29, 2024, SFO had 385,543 aircraft operations, an average of 1,056 per day. This consisted of 90% scheduled commercial, 7%air taxi, 2%general aviation and <1% military. As of September 18th, 2025, there were 14 aircraft based at SFO, 5helicopters, 4 jets, and 5 military aircraft.[2]
SFO was one of the first airports to implement a Fly Quiet Program, which grades airlines on their performance on noise abatement procedures while flying in and out of SFO. The Jon C. Long Fly Quiet Program[79] was started by the Aircraft Noise Abatement Office to encourage airlines to operate as quietly as possible at SFO.
SFO was one of the first U.S. airports to conduct a residential sound abatement retrofitting program. Established by the FAA in the early 1980s, this program evaluated the cost-effectiveness of reducing interior sound levels for homes near the airport, within the 65CNEL noise contour. The program made use of anoisecomputer model to predict improvement in specific residential interiors for a variety ofnoise control strategies. This pilot program was conducted for a neighborhood inSouth San Francisco and success was achieved in all of the homes analyzed. The costs turned out to be modest, and the post-construction interior sound level tests confirmed the predictions for noise abatement. To date over $153 million has been spent to insulate more than 15,000 homes in the neighboring cities ofDaly City,Pacifica,San Bruno, and South San Francisco.[80]
The airport has fourterminals (1, 2, 3, and International) and seven concourses with a total of 121 gates arranged alphabetically in a counterclockwise ring.[81] Terminal 1 (B gates), Terminal 2 (C and D gates), and Terminal 3 (E and F gates) handle domestic andprecleared flights.[82] The International Terminal (A and G gates) handles international flights and some domestic flights.
Historically, the oldest terminal building still standing is Terminal 2, which was originally completed in 1954 as the Central Terminal with four concourses (Piers B, C, D, and E, lettered sequentially from north to south).[83] Terminal 1 was added as the South Terminal in 1963 with Piers F/FF (Pier F had two satellite rotundas) and G, and Pier E was reassigned to the South Terminal upon its completion. International traffic was routed through Pier G, and a new Rotunda G was completed in 1974 to expand Pier G. Terminal 3 was added as the North Terminal in 1979 with Pier A. Also, once the North Terminal was completed in 1979, the piers were renamed counterclockwise, with letter designations corresponding to present-day Boarding Areas, starting with Pier A (originally Pier G, later Rotunda A), Pier B (present-day Boarding Area B, originally Pier F/FF), Pier C (present-day Boarding Area C, originally Pier E), and Pier F (present-day Boarding Area F, originally Pier A).[84] A new Pier E was added to the North Terminal in 1981 approximately where the old Pier B stood, and the Central Terminal was rebuilt with a single pier (D) to serve international flights in 1983, until a new International Terminal opened in 2000. Since then, the terminals were renamed with numbers in 2001, and the older terminals are in the process of renovation.
A rebuild of Terminal 2 (D gates, formerly the Central Terminal) was completed in 2011, followed by the completion of the rebuild of Terminal 3 East (E gates) in 2015. The rebuild of Terminal 1 (B gates) was completed in 2024. A rebuild of Terminal 3 West (F gates) commenced in 2024, with full completion expected by 2029.[85][86][87][88]
Airside connector between International Terminal and Terminal 3 in August 2017
There areairside connectors at SFO that enable passengers to move between adjacent terminal buildings while staying within the secure area. Since June 17, 2024 connectors are available between the A gates of International Terminal to Terminal 1, Terminal 1 to Terminal 2, Terminal 2 to Terminal 3, and Terminal 3 to the G gates of the International Terminal.[89][90][91][92][93][87] There is no connector directly between the International Terminal A and G gates.
Artwork in November 2019 memorializing gay rights activist and former San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk (1930–1978)Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Community Day, July 2019
Formerly known as the "South Terminal",Harvey Milk Terminal 1[94] is composed of Boarding Area B, which currently has 26 gates (gates B2-B27) and Boarding Area C, which has 11 gates (gates C1-C11). A third boarding area, Rotunda A, was demolished in early 2007, as its functions had been taken over by the new International Terminal.
The South Terminal, which costUS$14,000,000 (equivalent to $143,790,000 in 2024),[95] was initially dedicated onSeptember 15, 1963.[96] The terminal was designed byWelton Becket and Associates.[97] When it opened, the South Terminal had three piers: Pier G (for international flights, approximately at the same location as the present-day Boarding Area (B/A) A in the International Terminal), Pier F/FF (used by Trans World Airlines (TWA) and Western Airlines, later renamed B/A B), and Pier E (used by American Airlines; originally part of Terminal 2, approximately at the present-day B/A C).[98] The three-level Rotunda A addition was completed in 1974 at the end of Pier G.[99][100][101] When the North Terminal was completed in 1979, Pier G was renamed Pier A, with the other piers renamed in a counterclockwise direction proceeding from the new Pier A.[85] International flights were moved to the rebuilt Central Terminal (Terminal 2) in 1983, and then to the new International Terminal in 2000.
The South Terminal underwent aUS$150,000,000 (equivalent to $398,800,000 in 2024) renovation designed by Howard A. Friedman and Associates,[102] Marquis Associates and Wong & Brocchini[103] that was completed in 1988. Terminal 1 then underwent aUS$2,400,000,000 (equivalent to $3,144,430,000 in 2024) project to modernize the concourse and add gates;[104] the project broke ground on June 29, 2016. The phase of the project to expand Boarding Area B includes the demolition of the old TWA hangar, the demolition of the two rotundas, and the relocation of two taxiways.[98] The multi-phase project yielded a total of 27 gates when completed in 2024 including a secure Federal Inspection Services (FIS) connector to the existing customs facilities in the International Terminal.[105] This effectively added six new gates that can handle international arrivals. A renovation of Boarding Area C was expected to begin after the completion of work on Boarding Area B, but there were no current plans as of September 2024.[98][106]
In April 2018, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and mayorMark Farrell approved and signed legislation renaming Terminal 1 after deceased gay rights activist and formermember of the San Francisco Board of SupervisorsHarvey Milk, and planned to install artwork memorializing him. This followed a previous attempt to rename the entire airport after him, which was turned down.[107][108] Following the art and photo installation, the renamed terminal was opened to the media and public for preview tours in advance of its official opening on July 23, 2019.[94] Harvey Milk Terminal 1 is the world's first airport terminal named after a leader of theLGBTQ community.[94]
The first nine gates at the newly reconstructed Boarding Area B opened on July 23, 2019, withSouthwest Airlines andJetBlue becoming the first tenants.[109] In late-April 2020, the terminal's new lobby opened, with new ticket counters for Southwest and JetBlue, and a new permanent exhibit honoring Milk.[110][111] On May 12, 2020, in conjunction with the launch of nine new gates at Boarding Area B (B19-B27),American Airlines moved into the new facility, with new ticket counters, baggage systems, and a new Admirals Club lounge.[112][113] Seven gates (B2-B5, B10-B11, B15-B16) in the new terminal opened on May 25, 2021.[114]
In 2022,Hawaiian Airlines andWestJet moved a few of their departures into the B gates, but check-in counters and baggage claim remain in International Terminal A. In June 2024,Alaska Airlines moved all of its operations from Terminal 2 into Harvey Milk Terminal 1, in order to be closer to theirOneworld partnerAmerican Airlines and opened an Alaska Lounge in the terminal in July 2024.[115] Two gates (B3 and C1) also opened that month.[106] In December 2024,Hawaiian Airlines moved its check-in counters and baggage claim from the International Terminal A to the Harvey Milk Terminal 1 as part of its merger withAlaska Airlines.[116]
JetBlue operates two gates preferentially (B3 and B6), while American operates six of the nine new gates preferentially (B22-B27).[112][113] Alaska Airlines operates ten gates in the terminal preferentially (B7-8, B10-11, B15-16, and B18-21). Three gates (B2, B4, and B5) are not assigned preferentially to any airline.
Formerly known as the "Central Terminal", Terminal 2 is composed of Boarding Area D, which has 14 gates (D1-D12 and D14-D16). Gate D13 does not exist as the number has been reserved for future development.[117] Between June 23, 2020 and October 8, 2024, Boarding Area C was also considered part of Terminal 2.[118]
Terminal 2 opened in 1954 as the main airport terminal. After a drastic rebuilding designed byGensler, it replaced Rotunda A as SFO's international terminal in 1983[119][120] until it was closed for renovation after the current international terminal opened in 2000. The initial plan was to convert Terminal 2 for domestic travel and reopen it by fall 2001, but the loss of passenger traffic afterthe terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 put those plans on hold. The upper levels continued to be used as office spaces and for the airport's medical clinic, and the control tower remained in use.[121]
On May 12, 2008, aUS$383,000,000 (equivalent to $559,350,000 in 2024) renovation project was announced that included a new control tower, the use of green materials, a seismic retrofit, and an expansion from ten to fourteen gates.[121][122] The terminal reopened for commercial travel on April 14, 2011, withVirgin America (laterAlaska Airlines) andAmerican Airlines sharing the new 14-gatecommon-use facility.[123] Approximately a week earlier, onApril 6, 2011, Virgin America's ceremonial flight VX2001 was the first to arrive at the renovated Terminal 2, anAirbus A320 bearing founderRichard Branson with other invited celebrity guests, such asBuzz Aldrin,Rachel Hunter, andGavin Newsom. VX2001 had rendezvoused withWhite Knight Two/SpaceShipTwo overPoint Reyes before making a side-by-side landing.[124]The newly renovated terminal also designed byGensler features permanent art installations fromJanet Echelman, Kendall Buster,Norie Sato, Charles Sowers, andWalter Kitundu.[119][125][126] Transition zones (the immediate post-security line area for "passenger recomposure") and exit areas (where disembarking passengers may be greeted) were designed with generous space.[127][128] Terminal 2 set accolades by being the first U.S. airport to achieveLEED Gold status.[129] Paolo Lucchesi, a local food critic, noted thesustainable food and dining program featuring local vendors and sources.[130][131]
Following the construction of a new control tower in 2016, the tower and the offices above the terminal were demolished and new office space was constructed in their place. On February 14, 2020, a new public, outdoor observation deck, called SkyTerrace, was opened in the new office space.[132]
Until May 12, 2020, American's check-in counters were consolidated to T2, but its operations were split between Boarding Area D and Boarding Area C (linked via anairside connector). Following American's move to T1, the existing Admirals Club location was converted to an Alaska lounge, which has since closed.[133]
Air Canada andBreeze Airways have moved into Terminal 2 during 2022-Q1. As a result, all check-ins and departures fromAir Canada are no longer operating at the International Terminal. Since 2023, United Airlines has operated some flights out of Boarding Area D due to the Terminal 3 renovation project. In March 2025, Southwest Airlines moved all operations to Terminal 2.[134]
United Airlines planes sitting at their gates at Terminal 3 in January 2014Terminal 3 interior (pictured in April 2018)
Formerly known as the "North Terminal", Terminal 3 is composed of Boarding Area E with 13 gates (gates E1-E13) and Boarding Area F with 18 gates (gates F5-F22). Terminal 3 is used forUnited Airlines' domestic flights. Mainline United andUnited Express flights use both boarding areas.[135]
This $82.44 million terminal was originally designed by San Francisco Airport Architects (a joint venture ofJohn Carl Warnecke and Associates, Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture, and minority architects).[136] The groundbreaking ceremony for the North Terminal was held on April 22, 1971,[137] and Boarding Area F opened in 1979 and Boarding Area E opened in 1981.[138] All terminals (except the International Terminal) were redesignated by number starting October 1, 2001.[139]
A solar roof was installed in 2007 with sufficient generating capacity to power all Terminal 3 lights during the day.[140] American Airlines[141] and Air Canada[142] occupied Boarding Area E until it closed for refurbishment in 2011 under the airport's FY 2010/11 – FY 2014/15 Capital Plan. Designed by Gensler, the renovation included architectural enhancements, structural renovations, replacement of HVAC systems, roof repair, and new carpeting.[143] Initial modest renovation plans were replaced by a more ambitious project after the popularity of the remodeling of Terminal 2.[144] After the completion of theUS$138,000,000 (equivalent to $183,300,000 in 2024) project, Boarding Area E reopened on January 28, 2014, followed by Terminal 3 East on November 18.[145][146][147] The project moved one gate from Boarding Area F to Boarding Area E to provide a total of ten aircraft parking positions at T3E.[148] Following a 2019 renumbering of all gates at SFO, three additional gates moved from Boarding Area F to Boarding Area E, with the latter now containing 13 gates.[117]
In 2020, airport officials postponed a planned renovation for Terminal 3 West.[149] After a four year delay, the $2.6 billion project broke ground in 2024.[36][88] It will seismically retrofit part of Terminal 3, add international arrivals capabilities to up to four gates, renovate the check-in lobby, and expand the security checkpoint.[36][150] The project also includes a replacement of the "bouncy" moving walkway in Terminal 3 that was installed in the 1970s using one continuous section of rubber.[36][151]
There are twoUnited Clubs in Terminal 3—one near the rotunda for Boarding Area F and another at the beginning of Boarding Area E. Terminal 3 also houses theAmerican Express Centurion Lounge, located across from Gate F2.
The International Terminal (pictured in August 2007)Interior of the International Terminal check-in area in September 2007
The International Terminal is composed of Boarding Area A with 15 gates (A1-A15) and Boarding Area G with 14 gates (G1-G14). Designed byCraig W. Hartman ofSkidmore, Owings and Merrill, the terminal opened in December 2000 to replace the International Departures section of Terminal 2. It is the largest international terminal in North America, and the largest building in the world built onbase isolators to protect againstearthquakes.[152] Food service focuses on quick service versions of leading San Francisco Bay Area restaurants, following other SFO terminals. Planners attempted to make the airport a destination in and of itself, not just for travelers passing through.[153] The international terminal is a common-use facility, with all gates and all ticketing areas shared among international airlines and several domestic carriers. Common-use terminal equipment (CUTE) is used at check-in counters and gates.[154] All international arrivals and departures are handled here (except flights from cities withcustoms preclearance). The International Terminal houses the airport'sBART station, adjacent to the garage leading to Boarding Area G. The SFO Medical Clinic is located next to the security screening area of Boarding Area A. All gates in this terminal have at least twojetway bridges, except gates A3 and A12, which have one. Gates A1 and A2 can accommodate two aircraft. Six of the gates are designed for theAirbus A380, making SFO one of the first airports in the world with such gates when it was built in 2000.[155] Gate A11 has threejetways for boarding.[156] Four other gates have twojetways fitted for A380 service.[156]
The International Terminal completed a continuous ring of terminals, by filling in the last remaining gap to the west of then-existing terminals. Its geometry required that the terminal structure be built above the main access road, at enormous expense, including building dedicated ramps for connectivity to Highway 101. The design and construction of the international terminal was bySkidmore, Owings & Merrill, Del Campo & Maru Architects, Michael Willis Associates, and built byTutor Perini (main terminal building),Hellmuth, Obata, and Kassabaum in association with Robin Chiang & Company, Robert B. Wong Architects, and built byTutor Perini (Boarding Area G), and Gerson/Overstreet Architects and built byHensel Phelps Construction (Boarding Area A).[152] The contracts were awarded after anarchitectural design competition.
United Airlines planes at the International Terminal in July 2022
Most international flights operated byStar Alliance carriers, including all United international flights and select United domestic flights, are assigned to Boarding Area G's 14 gates.[157] Most international flights operated bySkyTeam,Oneworld, and non-aligned international carriers board and deplane at Boarding Area A's 15 gates. However, Star Alliance carriersAir India,Avianca El Salvador,Copa Airlines,EVA Air,TAP Air Portugal, andTurkish Airlines operate out of Boarding Area A. Boarding Area A is also used by domestic carriersFrontier Airlines andSun Country Airlines. When all gates in an airline's designated international boarding area are full, the passengers will board or deplane from the opposite international boarding area or, in the case of Boarding Area A, the adjacent B gates.Aer Lingus,Flair Airlines, andWestJet operate from airports withUnited States border preclearance, allowing arriving passengers to skip the wait at customs and immigration when they arrive at SFO, and exit the airport from the departure level.
The two main designations for the International Terminal are "I", and "INTL" (abbreviations for "International"). Oftentimes travel itineraries will say "T-I", and this has led to instances where passengers misinterpret the "I" as Terminal 1, especially since both Boarding Area A and Boarding Area G are used for a limited number of domestic flights.[who?]
In 2024, the airport announced that the International Terminal would be renamed after the late senator and former mayorDianne Feinstein.[158] The departures main hall is already named after the late mayorEd Lee.
SFO Museum was created in 1980 as a collaboration between the San Francisco Airport Commission and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and was the first museum in an international airport.[159] It was accredited by theAmerican Alliance of Museums in 1999, and contains both permanent artwork and temporary exhibitions in more than 20 galleries. The Aviation Museum and Library (officially, the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum) is located in the International Terminal, featuring a model of a DC-3. Other prominent installations include works by:[160][161]
Frequent travelers and airline staff have reportedly told SFO Museum officials they make it a point to arrive to the airport early in order to view the galleries.[162]
Parts of this article (those related to the ferry shuttle) need to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(March 2024)
Map of rail services at SFO
TheAirTrain is alandside people-mover system that connects each terminal, the two international terminal garages, the BART station, the Grand Hyatt hotel, the airport's Rental Car Center, and the Long-Term Parking garage. The AirTrain is fully automated and free to ride.[278][279]
San Mateo County's transit agency,SamTrans, serves the airport with several routes. Buses stop at the arrivals/baggage claim level of the domestic terminals and in courtyard A or G in the International Terminal.
BART trains and SamTrans buses also connect San Francisco International Airport toCaltrain with a transfer atMillbrae station. Millbrae will also be the connection between SFO andCalifornia High-Speed Rail; the station will be renamed to Millbrae–SFO station on the High Speed Rail line to coincide with the dual functionality of the station.[280]
Numerous door-to-door "shared ride" van and hotel courtesy shuttles stop at the center transportation island on the departure level, while Marin Airporter buses and limousines are on the arrivals/baggage claim level of the airport. Charter services are also available in the courtyards.
Bird's-eye view of the airport in February 2010. Aspaghetti junction connects the passenger terminal roads toUS Route 101.
The airport is located onU.S. Route 101, 13 miles (21 km) south of downtown San Francisco. It is near the US 101 interchange withInterstate 380, a short freeway that connects US 101 withInterstate 280. Short term parking is located in the central terminal area and two international terminal garages. Long term parking is located on South Airport Blvd. and San Bruno Ave.[282]
Passengers can also park long-term at a select number of BART stations that have parking lots, with a permit purchased online in advance.[283]
Taxis depart from designated taxi zones located at the roadway center islands, on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level of all terminals.[284]
Ride app services such as Uber and Lyft are available via their respective mobile app. The designated ride app pickup area for domestic terminals is on the fifth floor of the adjacent garage. The designated pickup area for the International Terminal is on the Departures/Check-In Level roadway center island.
SFO is home to one of the largest single aircraft maintenance bases in the world with complete MRO base operations, including maintenance, repair, overhaul, painting, welding, machine shop, tool and die, parts manufacturing, fabrication, engineering, and retrofitting (Boeing and Airbus certified, among others). It serves as the principal Global MRO Base for United Airlines and serves over 40 other airlines, military customers, and aircraft lease operators.[285][286][287][288]
The eastern side of the airfield is dominated by the Superbay, a 420,550-square-foot (39,070 m2) maintenance hangar capable of holding four 747s. Originally constructed in the 1970s, the facility is shared by United Airlines and American Airlines.[289]
Prior to its merger that formedAirWest,Pacific Air Lines had its corporate headquarters on the grounds of the airport.[291]Hughes Airwest, the successor to Air West, also had its headquarters on the grounds of the airport.[292]
The United States Postal Service had an Air Mail Facility (AMF), later an International Service Center (ISC) located on Airport property. However, the post office was closed in 2022, after its lease was not renewed by the airport.[293]
In October 2019,Hyatt Hotels opened a 351-room Grand Hyatt-branded hotel next to International Garage A and connected to the terminals via AirTrain.[294]
On December 3, 2013, SFO launched a "Wag Brigade" program to bring a pack of trained therapy dogs to the terminals to calm nervous fliers and make passenger travel more enjoyable. In 2016, Lilou, aJuliana-breed therapy pig joined the Wag Brigade. Carefully selected for their temperament and airport suitability, the comfort canines wear vests that read "Pet Me!" which identify them.[295]
On February 20, 1959, a Pan American DC-7C[301] crashed and burned on the runway. The three crew members on board survived.
On February 3, 1963, Slick Airways Flight 40[302] crashed and burned after striking approach lights on runway 28R, killing the four people on board.
On December 24, 1964,Flying Tiger Line Flight 282, a Lockheed Constellation cargo aircraft departing forNew York City, crashed in the hills west of the airport, killing all three crew members on board.[303]
On June 28, 1965,Pan Am Flight 843, aBoeing 707, had just departed forHonolulu,Hawaii, when its #4 engine exploded, causing part of the wing and the engine itself to break off and fall into the streets below. The crew was able to extinguish the ensuing fire and land safely at the nearbyTravis Air Force Base.
JAL002 ditched in shallow water short of SFO
On November 22, 1968,Japan Air Lines Flight 2, aDC-8-62 named the Shiga (registered as JA8032), crash-landed on final approach at 9:30 a.m. on a shallow submerged reef at the eastern tip of Coyote Point (three miles short of the runway southeast of the airport). The plane was on a trip fromTokyo toSan Francisco, after making a stop inHonolulu. The pilot was experienced but misread the instruments on the DC-8, which was less than a year old. There were 107 people on the plane. There were no deaths or serious injuries. The plane was salvaged by Bigge Drayage Company soon after the crash. All luggage and fuel were removed to cut the weight and the plane was lifted onto a barge and taken to the airport for repairs. The cost of repairs was $4 million and the plane re-entered service the following April. The aircraft flew for Japan Air Lines until 1983 and then several air freight companies for 18 years until it was scrapped in December 2001.[304]
On July 30, 1971,Pan Am Flight 845, aBoeing 747 (registration: N747PA, name: Clipper America), struck navigational aids at the end of runway 1R on takeoff for Tokyo. The aircraft's landing gear and other systems were damaged. Two passengers were seriously injured by metal components of the runway approach light pier entering the cabin. The flight proceeded out over the Pacific Ocean to dump fuel to reduce weight for an emergency landing. Emergency services were deployed at the airport, and the plane returned and landed on runway 28R. During landing, the aircraft veered off the runway. There was no fire. After coming to a stop, the aircraft slowly tilted aft, coming to rest on its tail in a nose-high attitude. The forward evacuation slides were therefore in a nearly vertical position. Evacuation using these slides caused all of additional injuries, some severe. There were no fatalities among the 218 passengers and crew members aboard. An investigation determined that the cause of the accident was erroneous information from the flight dispatcher to the crew members regarding weight and runway length.[305]
On July 5, 1972,Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 710, aBoeing 737-200, was hijacked by two Bulgarian immigrants demanding $800,000 and to be taken to theSoviet Union. After flying for an hour and landing back at SFO, the plane was stormed by fourFBI agents. Both hijackers were killed along with one passenger. Two other passengers were injured.[306]
On September 13, 1972, TWA Flight 604,[307] aBoeing 707-331C cargo plane crashed into the bay on takeoff. All three crew members survived.
On October 8, 1984, aClay Lacy AviationLearjet 24 crashed shortly after takeoff after descending in a steep left-wing low-nose attitude after entering a broken cloud at 600 feet. All three occupants (two crew, and one occupant) were killed.[308]
On February 19, 1985,China Airlines Flight 006 made an emergency landing at the airport after a fatigued crew mishandled a single engine flameout, eventually leading to a stall and catastrophic dive that nearly led theBoeing 747SP to hit the ocean.
OnJune 28, 1998,United Airlines Flight 863 was forced to shut down an engine just after takeoff, and then nearly collided with San Bruno Mountain due to improper flight procedure. The aircraft returned safely to the airport. In response, United instituted new training procedures for its flight crews.
OnMay 26, 2007, an arrivingSkyWest AirlinesEmbraer EMB 120 nearly collided with aRepublic AirlineEmbraer 170 Regional Jet at the junction of Runways 01L and 28R. After the SkyWest EMB 120 passed the Runway 28R threshold, the Republic E-170 was cleared for takeoff on 01L, in contradiction to local and FAA orders requiring the arriving aircraft to pass the intersection before clearing departing aircraft on the intersecting runway.[309][310]
On June 28, 2008, anABX AirBoeing 767 preparing to depart with cargo caught fire and was seriously damaged. The pilots escaped uninjured. Although the airline had received a threat the week before, investigations revealed no evidence of any malicious device on board, eventually concluding the fire was caused by an electrical system malfunction.[311][312]
On September 22, 2012, a PrimeFlight catering truck accidentally drove into the wing of a parkedNetJetsGulfstream V. The wing sliced into the cab of the truck, killing the 60-year-old driver.[313]
On July 6, 2013,Asiana Airlines Flight 214, aBoeing 777-200ER registered HL7742, crashed while landing. The crash occurred due to a combination of mistakes made by the aircraft's flight crew. The flight crew had selected an incorrect autopilot mode when attempting to descend, followed by placing the thrust levers into "idle", which disabled the autopilot from maintaining speed as the aircraft approached the seawall. Upon descending below the desired flight path, the flight crew should have determined that their speed was too low and attempted a "go-around" and re-attempt to land. However, this decision was not made until the altitude was less than 100 feet (30 m), by which point the aircraft could not accomplish a go-around. The tail section of the aircraft struck the seawall at the end of the runway and became detached from the airframe; the plane ended up 2,000 feet (610 m) down the runway. Passengers and crew members evacuated before a fire, due to the ignition of engine lubricant, destroyed the aircraft. There were three fatalities, making this the first fatal Boeing 777 crash.[314][315]
On July 7, 2017,Air Canada Flight 759, anAirbus A320-200, fromToronto Pearson was instructed by air traffic control to go around after overflying Taxiway C for 0.25 miles (400 m) while on visual approach for 28R. The A320 overflew the first two aircraft lined up on Taxiway C by roughly 100 feet (30 m). The pilots landed the aircraft afterward without incident. A total of three wide-body aircraft and one narrow-body aircraft were lined up awaiting takeoff on Taxiway C. The NTSB launched an investigation into the incident,[316][317] publishing the final report in September 2018.[318]
On October 22, 2017,Air Canada Flight 781, anotherAirbus A320-200, fromMontreal landed on Runway 28R after being instructed by the ATC six times to go around, without any response from the pilots. Upon landing the crew reported they had radio problems in the cockpit, but a later FAA investigation found that the crew inadvertently switched from the SFO tower frequency to the SFO ground frequency after receiving their landing clearance.[319]
On March 7, 2024, aBoeing 777-200ER ofUnited Airlines, registration N226UA, was climbing out of runway 28R bound forOsaka, Japan, when one of the six wheels on the left main gear truck detached and fell in a parking lot, damaging three cars. The aircraft landed safely atLos Angeles Airport with no casualties. An airfield safety employee was injured while clearing debris.[320]
^"Family". Atlanta: Frontier Airlines. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. RetrievedJuly 31, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"Pacific Air Lines route map".AirTimes – A Source for Airline History. July 20, 1966.Archived from the original on March 11, 2017. RetrievedAugust 28, 2015.
^"Hughes Airwest route map".departedflights.com. January 15, 1978.Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. RetrievedDecember 13, 2017.
^"American Airlines"(PDF).1960s Airline & Airliner Antiques. January 3, 1960.Archived(PDF) from the original on October 17, 2015. RetrievedAugust 28, 2015.
^San Francisco Airport Architects (January 29, 1968)."SFO Rotunda Plans / Sections 9". SFO Museum.Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. RetrievedAugust 9, 2017.
^"AmericaArchived May 25, 2017, atArchive-It."Nippon Cargo Airlines. Retrieved on February 17, 2012. "900 North Access Road, San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, CA 94128, U.S.A."
^"World Airline Directory."Flight International. April 28, 1979.1379Archived March 6, 2012, at theWayback Machine. "Head Office: San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, Ealif 94128, USA."
^Browning, Corey (March 31, 2022)."San Francisco International Airport post office permanently closes".The Daily Journal. California.Archived from the original on April 23, 2022. RetrievedApril 24, 2025.The San Francisco Air Mail Center — the post office within the San Francisco International Airport — will close for good Thursday following the non-renewal of the site's lease by the airport.
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