The Evolution Of San Francisco Airport Over The Years

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has a long and storied history, dating back to the early days of aviation. The airport first opened in the late 1920s as Mills Field Municipal Airport, serving as a western terminus for the transcontinental air mail system. Over the years, it has undergone numerous expansions and renovations to keep up with the evolving aviation industry. Today, SFO is a major international airport, offering nonstop flights to destinations around the world and serving as a hub for several airlines.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the primary international airport for the San Francisco Bay Area

The airport's history began in 1927 when the City and County of San Francisco leased 150 acres of land from the Mills Estate for what was initially a temporary and experimental airport project. The airport was named Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco and officially opened on 7 May 1927. The site was expanded to 1,112 acres in 1930 when the city purchased the land and surrounding areas. The airport's name was changed to San Francisco Airport in 1931, with 'International' being added after World War II as overseas service expanded.

SFO has undergone numerous expansions and improvements over the years to accommodate the growth in air travel. In the 1930s, the airport introduced paved and widened runways and taxiways, boundary and runway lights for safer night operations, and a new passenger terminal with a modern control tower. During World War II, the airport was used as a Coast Guard base and Army Air Corps training and staging base.

In the late 1990s, SFO became the nation's 9th busiest airport during the Dotcom tech boom. However, the airport faced chronic delays due to its mid-century runways, which were too close together to accommodate the increased air traffic. While expansion plans were proposed, they were ultimately derailed due to environmental and political opposition.

Today, SFO continues to be a major hub for air travel, offering a range of services and conveniences for passengers. It has four terminals and seven concourses, with ongoing renovations and upgrades to enhance the travel experience. SFO is also known for its diverse food options, including local brands and award-winning establishments. The airport has received recognition for its efficient operations and has been ranked highly in various surveys and lists.

SFO is the largest airport in the Bay Area and the second busiest in California

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the largest airport in the Bay Area and the second busiest in California, after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

SFO is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco, and is located in an unincorporated area of neighbouring San Mateo County, approximately 12 miles southeast of San Francisco. The airport covers 5,207 acres and has four asphalt runways.

SFO is a major hub for United Airlines, which operates 286 daily flights to 79 airports across the United States from the airport, as well as 31 daily nonstop flights to 26 international destinations. The airport also functions as a hub for Alaska Airlines.

SFO has received local, national, and global recognition for its achievements, including the SkyTrax Passengers' Choice Award for best customer service in North America in 2018 and the 2017 California Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award for sustainability, the state's highest environmental award.

The airport first opened in 1927 as Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco, on 150 acres of land leased from the Mills Estate. In 1930, the city purchased the property and surrounding area, expanding the site to 1,112 acres. The airport's name was officially changed to San Francisco Airport in 1931 and "International" was added at the end of World War II as overseas service rapidly expanded.

Today, SFO is among the 10 largest airports in the US and one of the world's 25 busiest airports, serving approximately 56 million domestic and international passengers in 2017.

The airport was originally called Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco

The airport's name was officially changed to San Francisco Airport in 1931 when the city purchased the land from the Mills Estate. During this time, Western Air Express and Maddox Air Lines used Mills Field, but they later relocated to Oakland, while Century Pacific began service with their sole Fokker trimotor. Pacific Air Transport joined in December 1932, and United Air Lines followed in May 1934.

In 1936, the airport had three runways forming a triangle, and a seaplane harbour was under construction. In 1937, United began scheduled DC-3 service from San Francisco to New York and Los Angeles. In the same year, Transcontinental & Western Air became a major player by constructing their base on airport property.

In 1940, United relocated their Western Division maintenance base to San Francisco Airport, where it remains today. During World War II, the airport became a US Army Air Force training centre, and Treasure Island, originally intended to be an airport, became a naval station.

SFO has four terminals: Harvey Milk Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has four terminals: Harvey Milk Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal. The airport is the primary international airport for the San Francisco Bay Area and is the largest airport in the Bay Area. It is the second-busiest airport in the US state of California, after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

SFO has four terminals and seven concourses with a total of 120 gates. Terminal 1 (formerly the South Terminal) has Boarding Areas B and C, with a total of 36 gates. Terminal 2 (formerly the Central Terminal) has Boarding Area D, with 14 gates. Terminal 3 (formerly the North Terminal) has Boarding Areas E and F, with a total of 31 gates. The International Terminal has Boarding Areas A and G and 15 gates each.

The South Terminal, which opened in 1963, was renamed Harvey Milk Terminal 1 in 2019 after the gay rights activist and member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Terminal 1 underwent a $2.4 billion modernisation project, which was completed in 2024, adding six new gates for international arrivals.

Terminal 2 opened in 1954 as the main airport terminal and was rebuilt and reopened in 2011. It was the first US airport to achieve LEED Gold status.

Terminal 3 opened in 1979 and was renovated in 2014. A $2.6 billion project to retrofit the terminal, add international arrivals capabilities, and expand the security checkpoint began in 2024.

The International Terminal, which opened in 2000, is the largest in North America and can accommodate the Airbus A380, making SFO one of the first airports in the world with such gates. The terminal has artwork and exhibitions as part of the SFO Museum, the first museum in an international airport, which was accredited by the American Alliance of Museums in 1999.

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

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is home to one of the largest single aircraft maintenance bases in the world. The airport is the primary international airport for the San Francisco Bay Area, owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco. SFO is the largest airport in the Bay Area and the second-busiest in the US State of California, following Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

The airport's maintenance base is a principal Global MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) Base for United Airlines, serving over 40 other airlines, military customers, and aircraft lease operators. The base is staffed by more than 2,000 employees, who work around the clock to inspect and upgrade planes in a sprawling array of hangars just north of the airport. The eastern side of the airfield is dominated by the Superbay, a 420,550-square-foot maintenance hangar capable of holding four 747s.

United Airlines has a long history with SFO, becoming the key carrier at the airport in 1934 and constructing a large maintenance facility in San Francisco for its new Douglas DC-8s in the 1950s. The airline also has a team of all-female maintenance technicians called Chix Fix, who compete in the Aerospace Maintenance Competition, also known as the aircraft technician Olympics.

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