
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the primary international airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area. Located 13 miles south of San Francisco, it is the second-busiest airport in California and the 29th-busiest in the world. The airport is known for its scenic landing location on the edge of the San Francisco Bay, offering great views of the city. However, its proximity to the bay also makes it prone to fog, which can cause delays as only one of the two runways can be used in reduced visibility conditions. SFO is conveniently connected to downtown San Francisco via the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). The airport has four terminals (1, 2, 3, and International) and seven concourses, with a variety of dining, shopping, and lounge options for travellers.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name | San Francisco International Airport |
Location | 13 miles (21 km) south of downtown San Francisco |
IATA | SFO |
ICAO | KSFO |
FAA LID | SFO |
Distance from downtown San Francisco | 13 miles (21 km) |
Yearly passengers | 57.8 million (2018) |
Ranking in California | Second-busiest |
Ranking in the US | Fourteenth-busiest (2023) |
Ranking in the world | Fourteenth-busiest (2023) |
Hub for | United Airlines, Alaska Airlines |
Terminals | 4 (1, 2, 3, International) |
Concourses | 7 (boarding areas A to G) |
Runways | 4 |
What You'll Learn
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the primary airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area
- SFO is the second-busiest airport in California
- SFO is located 13 miles south of San Francisco
- SFO is connected to downtown San Francisco via the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit)
- SFO is a hub for United Airlines and Alaska Airlines
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the primary airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area
SFO is a hub for several major airlines, including United Airlines, for which it is the primary transpacific gateway and a major maintenance hub, and Alaska Airlines. The airport is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco and has four terminals (1, 2, 3, and International) and seven concourses with 120 gates.
The airport is easily accessible via various transport options, including the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, which offers a direct connection to downtown San Francisco, Oakland, and other cities in the Bay Area. The AirTrain people-mover system provides free transportation within the airport, connecting the terminals, parking lots, BART station, and Rental Car Center.
SFO offers a range of amenities and services for travellers, including dining options featuring local cuisine, shopping, lounges, and art exhibitions as part of the SFO Museum. The airport also has a Fly Quiet Program to encourage airlines to minimise noise when flying in and out of SFO.
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SFO is the second-busiest airport in California
San Francisco International Airport, commonly referred to as SFO, is the second-busiest airport in California. Located 12-13 miles southeast of downtown San Francisco, it is the primary international airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area. It is the largest airport in the Bay Area and the primary transpacific gateway for United Airlines, which uses it as a major maintenance hub. It is also a hub for Alaska Airlines.
SFO has four terminals—three for domestic flights and one for international flights. It is known for its modern architecture and wide range of amenities, including numerous eateries, shops, and art exhibitions. The airport covers 5,207 acres of land and has four asphalt runways.
In 2023, SFO was the fourteenth-busiest airport in the United States and the 29th-busiest in the world by passenger count. It is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco.
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SFO is located 13 miles south of San Francisco
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located 13 miles south of San Francisco, California, United States. It is the primary international airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area and is the second-busiest airport in California after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
SFO is a major hub for United Airlines, which functions as the airline's primary transpacific gateway, and a secondary hub for Alaska Airlines. It is the largest airport in the San Francisco Bay Area and the largest in Northern California. In 2017, it was the seventh-busiest airport in the United States and the 24th-busiest in the world by passenger count.
The airport is accessible by car via US Highway 101 and is connected to downtown San Francisco by the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, which takes about 30 minutes. SFO is conveniently located near Millbrae, Burlingame, and San Bruno in unincorporated San Mateo County.
SFO offers flights to destinations throughout North America and is a major gateway to Europe and Asia. It has four terminals (1, 2, 3, and the International Terminal) and seven concourses (boarding areas A to G). The terminals are connected by the AirTrain people-mover system, which is fully automated and free of charge.
SFO provides a range of services and facilities for travellers, including dining options, shopping, lounges, a museum, and art exhibits. The airport also has a Fly Quiet Program, which grades airlines on their performance in noise abatement procedures.
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SFO is connected to downtown San Francisco via the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the primary international airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area. It is located in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County, about 12 miles southeast of San Francisco. SFO is the largest airport in the San Francisco Bay Area and the second-busiest in the US state of California, after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
The BART system is easy to use and offers a convenient way to get to and from the airport without having to sit in Bay Area traffic. The BART trains are also a more affordable option compared to other forms of transportation, such as taxis, shared-ride shuttle vans, or ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft.
To get to the BART station from the domestic terminals, follow the signs to the Air Train at SFO. The Air Train has two lines: the Red Line, which is the fastest way to get to the International Terminal, and the Blue Line. Once you arrive at the International Terminal, go up the escalator to the departures level, and the BART station entrance will be just around the corner.
When using BART, it is important to know which stop you need to get off at before purchasing your ticket, as the fares are distance-based. The BART stops in downtown San Francisco include Civic Center, Powell Street, Montgomery Street, and Embarcadero. These stops provide easy access to various destinations in the city, including Union Square, the convention center, the Financial District, and Fisherman's Wharf.
Overall, the BART provides a convenient and cost-effective way for travellers to get from SFO to downtown San Francisco and other destinations in the Bay Area.
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SFO is a hub for United Airlines and Alaska Airlines
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the primary international airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area. It is the largest airport in the San Francisco Bay Area and the second-busiest in the US state of California, after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
SFO is a hub for both United Airlines and Alaska Airlines. It is the fifth-largest hub for United Airlines, functioning as the airline's primary transpacific gateway, and as a major maintenance hub.
United Airlines was formed in 1934 and quickly became the key carrier at the airport, with Douglas DC-3 service to Los Angeles and New York beginning in January 1937. SFO is the primary transpacific gateway for United Airlines, with flights to the South Pacific and East Asia, ranging from destinations like Auckland and Tahiti to destinations like Singapore and Shanghai.
Alaska Airlines has been working on building up its network in the area. San Francisco International Airport is the Bay Area's main gateway for long-haul international travel. The airline has made some recent network additions to Anchorage and leisure-based additions to Mexico. This is in addition to its transcontinental flights to Washington, D.C., New York, and Boston, geared for business travellers.
Alaska Airlines' network out of San Francisco is relatively small but growing. The airline's new alliance membership will be a key driver of its network strategy.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, San Francisco has an international airport, San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
San Francisco International Airport is about 12-13 miles south of downtown San Francisco.
You can get to downtown San Francisco from the airport by taxi or by using the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) system.