San Francisco's Airport Count: A Comprehensive Overview

San Francisco is served by several airports, with three major airports in the Bay Area: San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland International Airport (OAK), and Mineta San Jose International Airport. San Francisco International Airport is the primary international airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area and is ranked as the 29th busiest airport in the world. In addition to these, there are several other smaller and private airports in the region.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

SFO has four terminals, including an international terminal, and seven concourses (boarding areas A to G). The terminals are connected by an air train. The airport provides a range of facilities, including dining options, shopping, lounges, a car wash, lost and found, medical services, and more. Various ground transportation options are available, including the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) rail, Caltrain commuter rail, SamTrans bus routes, car rentals, Airporter buses, and taxis.

SFO offers a wide variety of dining options, representing the famous cuisine of San Francisco and the Bay Area. These include cafés, delis, sit-down restaurants, and wine bars. Some of the dining choices available are Dogpatch Bakehouse & Caffé, Burger King, Fraîche, Goldilocks, Napa Farms Market, Pie Five Pizza Co., and Starbucks, to name a few.

For shoppers, SFO offers a range of options, including bookstores, gift shops with local souvenirs, and luxury and designer boutiques such as L'Occitane, Burberry, Gucci, Hermes, and Swarovski. The airport also has lounges that can be accessed by paying a small fee or purchasing a pass or membership program. These lounges offer all-inclusive food and drinks, unlimited Wi-Fi, newsstands, and TV. There are also lounges affiliated with specific airlines, such as American Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines.

Other amenities and services at SFO include a Christian Science Reading Room, Kid's Spot, self-guided tours, museum exhibits, a yoga room, and art displays throughout the terminals.

Oakland International Airport (OAK)

Oakland International Airport, officially the Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (IATA: OAK, ICAO: KOAK, FAA LID: OAK), is one of three major airports in the Bay Area. It is located 7 miles (11 km) south of Downtown Oakland and 12 miles (19 km) east of San Francisco, serving the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. The airport is owned by the Port of Oakland and has domestic passenger flights to cities throughout the United States and international flights to Mexico, El Salvador, and seasonal European flights. OAK is partnered with 13 airlines that fly to 55 domestic and international destinations.

The Oakland International Airport is the third busiest airport in the Bay Area, after San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and San José Mineta International Airport (SJC). It is the closest airport to the East Bay region. OAK is an operating base for Southwest Airlines, which operates point-to-point routes with bases instead of a traditional network with hubs.

The airport covers 2,600 acres (1,100 ha) of land and has two terminals with a total of 29 gates. Terminal 1 has 16 gates, while Terminal 2 has 13. The terminals are connected at post-security and gate areas, enabling arriving passengers to go straight to their connecting flights without re-entering security. All non-pre-cleared international flights are processed in Terminal 1.

OAK has plenty of concession offerings for passengers who want to eat, drink, or shop. The airport has a range of restaurants, delis, cafes, and bars, including Pyramid Ale Taproom, Max’s & Oak Pizza, Andalé, Peet’s Coffee, and Teas, Bar 510, Vino Volo, and Tap ‘N Pour. For shopping, there is Duty-free, Oakland News, Oakland Sports Scene, InMotion Entertainment, Oakland Marketplace, Sunglass Icon, Benefit, Best Buy, and CVS.

The airport is accessible by private automobile from Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway), which is 2 miles (3 km) away via Hegenberger Road or 98th Avenue, heading west. Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) also serves the airport at Oakland International Airport station via the Oakland Airport Connector, connecting the airport to the Coliseum station. Three AC Transit bus routes also directly serve the airport: Line 21, Line 73, and Line 805, which runs overnight as part of the Bay Area's All Nighter bus network.

San José Mineta International Airport (SJC)

SJC is the second busiest airport in the San Francisco Bay Area, serving 14.3 million passengers in 2018 and 15.7 million in 2019. It is a focus city for Alaska Airlines, which was the second most popular airline at the airport in 2021, with around 19% of passengers. In 2021, 54% of passengers flew with Southwest Airlines, which has been serving the airport since 1966.

The airport has two terminals, A and B, which are connected airside. Terminal A has 17 gates and opened in 1990, while Terminal B has 20 gates and opened in 2010. There are various dining and shopping options within the terminals, including Starbucks, Smashburger, and Duty-Free stores. The airport also offers a range of facilities and services, including Wi-Fi, postal services, ATMs, showers, and lounges.

For ground transportation, passengers can use the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) bus route 60, which is free to ride from either terminal and connects to the Santa Clara Transit Center and various VTA rail and bus services. There are also taxi and ride-hailing services available, as well as car rental options from companies like Avis, Budget, and Hertz.

Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (STS)

STS is located in Santa Rosa, California, and is named after Charles M. Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts comic strip. The airport is a convenient gateway to the famous wine-growing regions of Sonoma and Napa counties, as well as the redwood forests and the scenic Pacific coast of Northern California.

The airport is served by a few commercial airlines, including Alaska Airlines, which offers daily nonstop flights to Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles. United Airlines also operates seasonal flights to Denver. Additionally, there are private jet and charter flight options available at STS.

The facilities at STS include a single terminal building with a few gates, a small selection of dining and shopping options, and car rental services. The airport also features an art programme showcasing the work of local artists, with sculptures and murals inspired by the Peanuts comic strip.

STS provides a more relaxed and intimate experience compared to the larger airports in the region. Its compact size and lower passenger volume make for a quicker and less crowded journey. The airport is particularly popular among those visiting the nearby wine country and those seeking a more tranquil travel experience.

San Carlos Airport

The San Carlos Flying Field was established during World War I by J. Paulding Edwards on a field north of Cordilleras Creek and east of today's Old County Road. The first pilot's license was issued to Lieutenant Prince on July 10, 1917. In 1923, the airfield was taken over by the Cooley family, with Charles P. Cooley as the primary flight instructor and his father, Frank S. Cooley, operating the field. In 1940, a fire destroyed the main hangar and twelve aircraft.

The Cooley family opened another airfield at the present location of the San Carlos Airport in 1948. In 1952, ownership was transferred to Francis Michaud, who renamed it the San Carlos-Belmont Airport. The field was renamed again in 1957, this time to San Mateo County Airport, Inc. San Mateo County purchased the property in 1964. Today, the airport is completely funded by user and business fees and does not receive money from the County's General Fund.

The airport is home to approximately 500 aircraft and over 30 aviation-related businesses. In the year ending May 31, 2020, the airport had 75,243 aircraft operations, with an average of 206 per day. It provides a variety of emergency services and response functions, including Air-Ambulance, Medivac flights, and law enforcement patrols.

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