San Francisco Airport: A Sprawling Transportation Hub

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the primary airport for the San Francisco Bay Area in California. The airport is located 12-14 miles from San Francisco and is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco. SFO is a major hub for United Airlines and Alaska Airlines, and it served approximately 39.7 million passengers in Fiscal Year 2010-11. The airport has four terminals and seven concourses, with a total of 120 gates.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is 12-14 miles from San Francisco

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located 12-14 miles from downtown San Francisco. It is the primary international airport for the San Francisco Bay Area in California. The airport is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco and has been operating in the same location since 1927. SFO is the largest airport in the Bay Area and the second-busiest in California, after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

SFO is a major hub for United Airlines, which acts as the airline's primary transpacific gateway and a major maintenance facility. The airport also functions as a hub for Alaska Airlines, as well as other large airlines such as Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and American Airlines. During Fiscal Year 2010-11, SFO was served by 48 passenger and 7 cargo-only airlines, with United Airlines handling 39.7% of total enplaned passengers.

The airport has four terminals (1, 2, 3, and International) and seven concourses, with a total of 120 gates. Terminal 1 was renamed after gay rights activist Harvey Milk in 2018 and officially opened in 2019, becoming the world's first airport terminal named after an LGBTQ community leader. Terminal 2 is the oldest terminal building still standing, originally completed in 1954 as the Central Terminal.

SFO is situated between the Bayshore Freeway (U.S. Highway 101) and the San Francisco Bay, providing easy access to the city and stunning views of the bay area. The airport's AirTrain system connects all four terminals, the international terminal garages, the BART station, and the Rental Car Center, offering a convenient and efficient way to navigate the airport.

SFO has four terminals and seven concourses

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a large airport with a total of four terminals and seven concourses. Terminals 1, 2, and 3 handle domestic and pre-cleared flights, while the International Terminal caters to international flights and some domestic flights. Each terminal is equipped with security checkpoints, and passengers are advised to arrive at least two hours before their scheduled departure to allow enough time for security screening.

Terminal 1, also known as the Harvey Milk Terminal, has one concourse with gates B1 to B27. It offers a variety of dining options and shops, as well as lounges such as the American Airlines Admirals Club, the Alaska Lounge, and The Club SFO. Terminal 2, the oldest terminal building still standing, originally completed in 1954, has one concourse with C and D gates. Terminal 3 has two concourses with E and F gates.

The International Terminal, with its soaring roofline and glass-and-steel exterior, is a visual centerpiece at SFO. It has two concourses, A and G, with the departures area split across them. The complex is equivalent in size to 35 football fields and houses 24 gates to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft. The International Terminal also offers a diverse selection of international cuisine, ample ticket counter space, and expanded U.S. Customs facilities to expedite passenger traffic.

Passengers can easily navigate between the terminals by using the AirTrain, which operates 24 hours a day with trains arriving as frequently as every five minutes. SFO is located approximately 12 to 14 miles from downtown San Francisco, and travellers can choose from various transportation options, including taxis, ride-sharing services, or the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train.

Terminal 1 was renamed after gay rights activist Harvey Milk

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the primary international airport for the San Francisco Bay Area in California. It is approximately 12 miles southeast of San Francisco and is the largest airport in the Bay Area. The airport has four terminals (1, 2, 3, and International) and seven concourses with a total of 120 gates.

Terminal 1 was renamed after gay rights activist and former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Harvey Milk. In April 2018, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and mayor Mark Farrell approved and signed legislation to rename the terminal, with plans to install artwork memorializing Milk. This followed an attempt to rename the entire airport after him, which was rejected. The terminal officially opened on July 23, 2019, and is the world's first airport terminal named after a leader of the LGBTQ+ community.

Harvey Milk was an openly gay civil rights activist and San Francisco city supervisor. He was a pioneering advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and his legacy continues to endure today. Milk was assassinated in 1978, and his life and work have been commemorated with the renaming of Terminal 1 at SFO. The terminal features artwork and photos that provide a glimpse into his life, including his activism and political leadership in San Francisco.

The Harvey Milk Terminal 1 includes seven new departure gates capable of handling domestic and international flights. A passenger walkway connects the terminal to the International Terminal, located post-security. The terminal's new lobby, which opened in late April 2020, features new ticket counters and a permanent exhibit honouring Milk.

SFO is the largest airport in the Bay Area

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the largest airport in the Bay Area. It is located 12-14 miles from downtown San Francisco in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County, between the Bayshore Freeway and the San Francisco Bay. The airport has four runways, seven concourses, and four terminals with 120 gates. The terminals are connected by an AirTrain, a fully automated and free-to-ride people-mover system.

SFO is the second-busiest airport in California, following Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). In 2023, it ranked as the 13th-busiest airport in the United States and 29th in the world by passenger traffic, serving approximately 39.7 million passengers. It is a hub for United Airlines, which is the largest airline in the Bay Area, and Alaska Airlines.

The airport's International Terminal, which opened in 2000, is the largest in North America and the largest building in the world built on base isolators to protect against earthquakes. It has 29 gates across two boarding areas and handles international and some domestic flights. Terminals 1, 2, and 3 handle domestic and pre-cleared flights. Terminal 2 is the oldest terminal building, completed in 1954.

SFO has a range of amenities, including an Airport Public Art Program Audio Tour, massage chairs, a nursing room, a piano, and a pet relief area. It also offers state-of-the-art facilities such as a car wash, lost and found, and medical services.

SFO is the second-busiest airport in California

San Francisco International Airport, or SFO, is the second-busiest airport in California by passenger traffic. It is the primary international airport for the San Francisco Bay Area and is located approximately 12 miles southeast of San Francisco in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County. The airport covers a large area, with four terminals and seven concourses, providing a total of 120 gates.

SFO is a major hub for United Airlines, serving as its primary transpacific gateway and a major maintenance facility. The airport also functions as a hub for Alaska Airlines. In 2010, SFO was served by 48 passenger and 7 cargo-only airlines, with United Airlines handling 39.7% of total enplaned passengers. During that period, the airport served approximately 39.7 million passengers and handled 392,669 total flight operations, including scheduled passenger airline operations.

In addition to its role as a busy aviation hub, SFO has a significant impact on the surrounding community. Over $153 million has been spent on insulating over 15,000 homes in neighbouring cities to mitigate noise levels. The airport also has a notable history, having served as a Coast Guard base and Army Air Corps training base during World War II.

SFO has continued to develop and expand over the years. In 2018, the airport's Terminal 1 was renamed after gay rights activist Harvey Milk, becoming the world's first airport terminal named after an LGBTQ community leader. Despite its previous ranking as the sixth busiest airport in the world during the dot-com boom, SFO has since fallen out of the top 20 busiest airports globally. However, it remains a significant aviation hub, ranking 13th busiest in the United States and 29th busiest worldwide by passenger traffic in 2023.

Frequently asked questions