San Francisco Airport: A Sprawling Transportation Hub

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is one of the largest airports in America, covering 21.07km² (8.1 square miles). It is 13 miles (21km) south of downtown San Francisco, California, and is the largest airport in the Bay Area. SFO is home to one of the largest single aircraft maintenance bases in the world. The airport has four terminals, with seven concourses between them, and at one time, its International Terminal was the largest in North America at 1.8 million square feet.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is one of the largest airports in America

SFO is home to one of the largest single aircraft maintenance bases in the world. 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. The airport has four terminals, with seven concourses between them. At one time, SFO's International Terminal was the largest in North America (1.8 million square feet).

The City and County of San 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. San Francisco held a dedication ceremony at the airfield, officially named the Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco, on May 7, 1927, on the 150-acre cow pasture. The land was leased from the Mills Estate in an agreement made with Ogden L. Mills, who oversaw the large tracts of property originally acquired by his grandfather, the banker Darius O. Mills. San Francisco purchased the property and the surrounding area, expanding the site to 1,112 acres (450 ha) beginning in August 1930. The airport's name was officially changed to San Francisco Airport in 1931 upon the purchase of the land.

SFO's International Terminal was once the largest in North America

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is one of the largest airports in America. It has four terminals and seven concourses. At one time, SFO's International Terminal was the largest in North America, covering 1.8 million square feet. The airport is 13 miles (21 km) south of downtown San Francisco, California, and covers 21.07km² (8.1 square miles). It is the largest airport in the Bay Area and the second busiest in California. SFO is home to one of the largest single aircraft maintenance bases in the world, with a 420,550-square-foot (39,070 m2) maintenance hangar capable of holding four 747s. The City and County of San Francisco first leased 150 acres (61 ha) at the present airport site in 1927, for what was then a temporary and experimental airport project. The airport was officially named Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco in 1927. San Francisco purchased the property and the surrounding area in 1930, expanding the site to 1,112 acres (450 ha). The airport's name was changed to San Francisco Airport in 1931.

SFO is 13 miles (21 km) south of downtown San Francisco

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is 13 miles (21 km) south of downtown San Francisco. It is one of the largest airports in America, with four terminals and seven concourses between them. SFO's International Terminal was once the largest in North America, covering 1.8 million square feet. The airport is also home to one of the largest single aircraft maintenance bases in the world, with a 420,550-square-foot (39,070 m2) maintenance hangar.

SFO is an easy place to navigate, with large, well-placed signage in every terminal and concourse. The airport serves as a major gateway to Europe and Asia, and it is the largest airport in the Bay Area. It is the second busiest airport in California, after LAX, and it functions as the fifth-largest hub for United Airlines. SFO also serves as a secondary hub for Alaska Airlines and is a major maintenance hub for United Airlines.

The City and County of San Francisco first leased 150 acres (61 ha) at the present airport site in 1927 for a temporary and experimental airport project. The airport was officially named the Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco and was located on a 150-acre cow pasture. In 1930, San Francisco purchased the property and surrounding areas, expanding the site to 1,112 acres (450 ha). The airport's name was changed to San Francisco Airport in 1931.

SFO is the largest airport in the Bay Area

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the largest airport in the Bay Area. It is 13 miles (21 km) south of downtown San Francisco, California, and covers 21.07km² (8.1 square miles). SFO is among America's largest airports, with four terminals and seven concourses between them. At one time, SFO's International Terminal was the largest in North America, covering 1.8 million square feet.

SFO is home to one of the largest single aircraft maintenance bases in the world, with complete MRO base operations (maintenance, repair, overhaul, painting, welding, machine shop, tool and die, parts manufacturing, fabrication, engineering, and retrofitting). 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.

The City and County of San Francisco first leased 150 acres (61 ha) at the present airport site in 1927, for what was then to be a temporary and experimental airport project. San Francisco held a dedication ceremony at the airfield, officially named the Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco, on May 7, 1927, on the 150-acre cow pasture. The airport's name was officially changed to San Francisco Airport in 1931 when the city purchased the land and surrounding area, expanding the site to 1,112 acres (450 ha).

SFO is home to one of the largest single aircraft maintenance bases in the world

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is one of the largest airports in the United States, covering 21.07km² (8.1 square miles). It is the largest airport in the Bay Area and the second busiest in California, after LAX. SFO is home to one of the largest single aircraft maintenance bases in the world, with complete MRO base operations (maintenance, repair, overhaul, painting, welding, machine shop, tool and die, parts manufacturing, fabrication, engineering, and retrofitting). 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. The base serves as the principal Global MRO Base for United Airlines and serves over 40 other airlines, military customers, and aircraft lease operators.

The City and County of San Francisco first leased 150 acres (61 ha) at the present airport site on 15 March 1927, for what was then to be a temporary and experimental airport project. San Francisco held a dedication ceremony at the airfield, officially named the Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco, on 7 May 1927, on the 150-acre cow pasture. The airport's name was officially changed to San Francisco Airport in 1931 upon the purchase of the land. SFO is an easy place to navigate, with large, well-placed signage in every terminal and concourse directing travellers to gates, baggage claims, transportation services, food, restrooms, and other important amenities.

SFO is a major maintenance hub for United Airlines, which has a base at the airport. The airline's all-female mechanics team, 'Chix Fix', has given rare tours of the base, showcasing the inner workings of the towering jet engines on the 787 Dreamliner and the cavernous wheel wells into which the plane's landing gear hydraulically retracts.

The American Airlines maintenance base in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the largest commercial aviation facility in the world. The facility spans over 33 acres with maintenance hangers and shop space covering over three million square feet (280,000 sqm). The Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company (HAECO) Xiamen Group in China is building the world's largest single-span aircraft maintenance facility, which will be completed in 2025.

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