San Francisco's Dual Airport System: How It Works

San Francisco International Airport, commonly referred to as SFO, is the primary airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area. It is the second-busiest airport in California and the 29th-busiest in the world. SFO has two terminals, A and B, with 30 gates in total, and offers various facilities, including dining, shopping, and Wi-fi. Aside from SFO, the Bay Area has three other airports: Oakland International Airport, San José Mineta International Airport, and Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

San Francisco International Airport, commonly referred to by its airport code, SFO, is the primary international airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area. It is the second-busiest airport in California, after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and the 13th-busiest airport in the United States. In 2023, it was ranked as the 29th-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic. The airport is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco and is located approximately 12 miles (19 km) southeast of the city in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County.

SFO offers nonstop flights to Asia, South Pacific, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the US, and is known for its world-class facilities, shopping, and dining options. It serves as a hub for United Airlines, acting as the airline's primary transpacific gateway, and as a major maintenance facility. It is also a hub for Alaska Airlines. The airport has four runways, although during overcast weather, only two of the runways can be used at a time due to their close proximity.

The history of the airport dates back to the 1930s when San Francisco purchased the property and the surrounding area, expanding the site to 1,112 acres (450 ha). The airport's name was officially changed to San Francisco Airport in 1931, and "International" was added after World War II as overseas service expanded. During the war, the airport was used as a training and staging base for the Army Air Corps and the Coast Guard.

SFO has undergone various renovations and expansions over the years, including the addition of the South Terminal and the North Terminal (now Terminal 2), and the rebuilding of the Central Terminal as the International Terminal in 1984. The airport expansion in the late 1990s cost an estimated US$1,400,000,000 (equivalent to $2,700,000,000 in 2024). In 2003, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system was extended to the airport, providing passengers with direct rail transportation to downtown San Francisco, Oakland, and the East Bay.

Oakland International Airport

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the primary international airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area. However, the Bay Area has three other airports with airline service, one of which is Oakland International Airport.

The history of Oakland International Airport dates back to 1925 when the city of Oakland first looked into constructing an airport. In 1927, the announcement of the Dole Air Race from California to Hawaii provided the incentive to purchase 680 acres (280 ha) for the airport. During World War II, the U.S. Armed Forces temporarily took over Oakland Airport and transformed it into an airlift base for military flights to the Pacific Islands. After the war, airlines slowly returned to Oakland, and Western Airlines began flights in 1946, followed by several other carriers. Oakland became a hub for non-scheduled and supplemental air carriers, with several large companies basing their operations in the city.

During the Vietnam War, Oakland International Airport saw an increase in military traffic, with World Airways shuttling thousands of military passengers through the airport to their bases in Southeast Asia. An international arrivals facility was built during this time, allowing the airport to handle international flights for the first time. In the 1990s, Southwest Airlines expanded its presence at Oakland International Airport, becoming the airport's dominant passenger carrier.

San Jose International Airport

In 2001, the San Jose City Council approved a three-phase, nine-year expansion plan for the airport. The plan included a consolidated "Central Terminal" with 40 gates, an international concourse, and expanded security areas. The new terminal was designed to accommodate up to 17.6 million passengers annually. The expansion plan also proposed a people mover system to connect the terminal with the VTA light rail and the planned BART station near the Santa Clara Caltrain station.

The airport has continued to attract new international flights, including Hainan Airlines' Beijing route, British Airways' London-Heathrow service, and Zipair Tokyo's Tokyo-Narita route. Despite setbacks during the pandemic, the airport has shown signs of recovery, with some airlines resuming or expanding their services. San Jose International Airport is an important gateway to the Bay Area, particularly for travellers to and from Silicon Valley.

Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the primary international airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area. However, there is another airport in the region, the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport, located in the heart of Wine Country, 55 miles north of the Golden Gate. The airport is named after Charles M. Schulz, the famed cartoonist of the Peanuts comic strip, who lived in Santa Rosa for over 30 years. The airport's logo features Snoopy in World War I flying-ace attire atop his doghouse.

The Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport is a domestic airport situated 7 miles northwest of downtown Santa Rosa, California, in Sonoma County. The airport offers direct flights to various destinations on different airlines, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and Avelo Airlines. The airport provides convenient access to nearby wineries, breweries, foodie hotspots, and other attractions.

In terms of transportation, the airport is served by Sonoma County Transit bus route 62, with connections to Mendocino Transit Authority routes 65 and 95. Additionally, shuttle buses link the airport to the Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Airport station, located about 1.5 miles away. Groome Transportation buses also connect the airport with Oakland International Airport and San Francisco International Airport.

The airport has an interesting history, with a small municipal airfield owned by Richfield Oil Corporation in the 1930s, located about 6 miles southeast of the present airport. During World War II, the use of this earlier airfield was discontinued, and the current airport site improved. Known as Santa Rosa Army Air Field, it served as a training airfield for the Fourth Air Force during the war.

The Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport also has an agreement with Alaska Airlines, allowing passengers to check a 12-bottle case of wine for free on all flights from the airport. This unique offering reflects the region's enotourism industry and provides added convenience for travellers visiting the wine country.

Airport expansion and delays

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the primary international airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area. It is the second-busiest airport in California and the 13th busiest in the United States. The airport has undergone several expansions and renovations over the years to accommodate the increasing passenger traffic.

In 1930, San Francisco purchased the property and surrounding area, expanding the site to 1,112 acres. The airport's name was changed to San Francisco Airport in 1931, and "International" was added after World War II as overseas service expanded. A new passenger terminal opened in 1937 with funding from the Public Works Administration.

More recently, SFO began a 10-year expansion and renovation project in 2019, including the Terminal 3 West project, estimated to cost $1 billion. However, this project has faced multiple delays due to decreased revenue and travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic significantly impacted the airport's operations, with passenger numbers dropping by 71.4% and revenue declining by 22% in 2020. As a result, the airport was forced to cut expenses by deferring construction projects, including the Terminal 3 expansion.

The delays in the Terminal 3 expansion project have had a ripple effect on the overall expansion plans for the airport, and it is uncertain how long the delay will last. The expansion project aims to enhance the airport's capacity and improve the passenger experience. However, the ongoing challenges highlight the complex nature of airport expansion endeavours, which can be susceptible to various economic and health-related factors.

In addition to the Terminal 3 expansion, SFO has also proposed extending its runways by adding up to 2 square miles of fill to San Francisco Bay. This proposal aims to address delays during low-visibility conditions when only two of the four runways can be used simultaneously due to their close proximity. The runway expansion plan also includes the option of constructing three floating runways, each approximately 12,000 feet long and 1,000 feet wide.

The expansion and delays at San Francisco International Airport reflect the dynamic nature of airport development, where projects can be influenced by various factors, including passenger demand, financial constraints, and unforeseen global events. Effective planning and adaptability are crucial to navigate these challenges and ensure the airport can meet the evolving needs of travellers and the aviation industry.

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