
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County, California, around 12-14 miles south of downtown San Francisco. SFO is the largest airport in the San Francisco Bay Area and the second-busiest in California. It is a hub for United Airlines and Alaska Airlines and functions as United's primary transpacific gateway.
What You'll Learn
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located in San Mateo County, California
SFO is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco. The airport has been operating in the same location since May 27, 1927. The City and County of San Francisco first leased, and then purchased, the land in 1930. The airport was originally named Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco, but the name was changed to San Francisco Airport in 1931, and then to San Francisco International Airport after World War II to reflect the growing international air service developing at the airport.
SFO has four terminals and seven concourses with a total of 120 gates. The airport covers 5,207 acres of land and has four asphalt runways. It is home to one of the largest single aircraft maintenance bases in the world, serving as a major maintenance hub for United Airlines.
SFO is accessible by car, bus, train, and ferry. The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system connects the airport directly to San Francisco, Oakland, and other cities across the Bay Area.
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SFO is 12-14 miles south of downtown San Francisco
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located 12-14 miles south of downtown San Francisco, in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County. The airport is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco and has been in the same location since May 27, 1927.
SFO is the largest airport in the San Francisco Bay Area and the second-busiest in the state of California, after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). In 2017, it was the seventh-busiest airport in the United States and the 24th-busiest in the world by passenger count.
The airport is a major hub for United Airlines, serving as its primary transpacific gateway and a major maintenance hub. It is also a secondary hub for Alaska Airlines.
SFO offers flights to destinations throughout North America and is a major gateway to Europe and Asia. It is easily accessible via the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, which connects the airport directly to San Francisco, Oakland, and other cities in the Bay Area.
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SFO is the largest airport in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the largest airport in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is located 12 to 14 miles south of downtown San Francisco, in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County, near Millbrae, Burlingame, and San Bruno. The airport has been operating in the same location since May 27, 1927, and is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco.
SFO is a major gateway to Europe and Asia and functions as the primary transpacific gateway and a major maintenance hub for United Airlines, which handles around 40% of the airport's total enplaned passengers. The airport is also a hub for Alaska Airlines and houses the Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum and Library.
SFO has four terminals (1, 2, 3, and International) and seven concourses with a total of 120 gates. The airport covers 5,207 acres of land and has four asphalt runways. In 2017, it was the seventh-busiest airport in the United States and the 24th-busiest in the world by passenger count.
The airport can easily be accessed via the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, which connects the airport directly to San Francisco, Oakland, and other cities in the Bay Area.
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SFO is the second-busiest airport in California
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County, California, around 12 to 14 miles south of San Francisco. It is the second-busiest airport in California, after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
SFO is the largest airport in Northern California and the primary international airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2017, it was the seventh-busiest airport in the United States and the 24th-busiest in the world by passenger count. It is a hub for United Airlines and Alaska Airlines and houses the Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum and Library.
The airport has been in operation since May 27, 1927, and was originally named Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco. The City and County of San Francisco purchased the land in 1930 and changed the name to San Francisco Airport in 1931. After World War II, "International" was added to the name to reflect the growing international air service developing at the airport.
SFO is a major gateway to Europe and Asia and offers nonstop flights to over 80 destinations with service on 10 carriers. It is known for its extensive art installations and exhibitions as part of the SFO Museum, as well as its diverse dining and shopping options.
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SFO is a hub for United Airlines and Alaska Airlines
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the primary international airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area in California. It is located in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County, about 12-14 miles south of San Francisco. SFO is the largest airport in the San Francisco Bay Area and the second-busiest in California.
United Airlines was formed in 1934 and quickly became the key carrier at the airport. In January 1937, United began offering Douglas DC-3 service to Los Angeles and New York. The airline now provides service to Auckland, Tahiti, Singapore, Shanghai, and other destinations, appealing to both long-haul leisure and business passengers.
Alaska Airlines has a relatively small network out of San Francisco but is growing. The airline has recently added network additions to Anchorage and leisure-based destinations in Mexico. It also offers transcontinental flights to Washington, D.C., New York, and Boston, geared towards business travellers. Alaska Airlines is a member of the oneworld alliance, and its strategy in San Francisco is focused on becoming a growing connecting hub for oneworld carriers.
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Frequently asked questions
SFO Airport is located in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County, California, around 12-14 miles south of San Francisco.
The full name of the airport is San Francisco International Airport.
SFO is the largest airport in the San Francisco Bay Area and the second-busiest in California. In 2017, it was the seventh-busiest airport in the US and the 24th-busiest in the world by passenger count.
SFO is home to the Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum and Library, as well as the SFO Museum, which was the first museum in an international airport. The airport also has an outdoor observation deck called SkyTerrace.