Lois Larson
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located in San Mateo County, California, 14 miles south of downtown San Francisco. It is the second busiest and largest airport in the Bay Area, serving almost 58 million passengers annually. The airport has four terminals and seven concourses, with a total of 120 gates. The International Terminal, which opened in 2000, is the largest in North America and features quick-service versions of leading San Francisco Bay Area restaurants.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | San Francisco International Airport |
| Alternative name | SFO |
| Location | 14 miles south of downtown San Francisco |
| County | San Mateo County |
| Number of terminals | 4 |
| Number of concourses | 7 |
| Number of gates | 120 |
| Number of destinations | 80+ |
| Number of carriers | 10 |
| Number of passengers | 39.7 million |
| Number of flight operations | 392,669 |
| Largest terminal | International Terminal |
| Largest boarding area | Boarding Area G (14 gates) |
| Largest international terminal in | North America |
| Food service | Quick service versions of leading San Francisco Bay Area restaurants |
| Transport options | Rapid or commuter rail, bus, taxi, rental car |
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What You'll Learn
San Francisco International Airport is in San Mateo County
San Francisco International Airport is located in San Mateo County, California. The airport is situated 14 miles south of downtown San Francisco, in an unincorporated area of the county. While the airport is owned by the City of San Francisco, it sits outside the city's boundaries and limits, in an area between the Bayshore Freeway (U.S. Highway 101) and the San Francisco Bay. The airport is served by San Mateo County's transit agency, SamTrans, with several bus routes connecting it to the surrounding area.
The address of the airport is often listed as Millbrae, CA 94030, which is a city in San Mateo County. However, some sources suggest that the physical location is a combination of Millbrae and South San Francisco, which is also in San Mateo County. This discrepancy may be due to the fact that the airport is owned by the City of San Francisco and is policed by the SFPD Airport Detail, rather than local law enforcement from Millbrae or South San Francisco.
The unique location of the airport, being owned by the City of San Francisco but situated in San Mateo County, has led to some legal complexities. For example, the case of Air Cal v. San Francisco addressed the issue of the city's jurisdiction over the airport, given its location outside the city's boundaries. Despite these complexities, the airport serves as a major hub for the San Francisco Bay Area, offering domestic and international flights to various destinations.
In conclusion, San Francisco International Airport is located in San Mateo County, California, just outside the boundaries of the City of San Francisco. Its specific location has led to some legal complexities regarding jurisdiction, but it remains a crucial transportation hub for the region, serving millions of passengers each year.
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The airport is owned by the City of San Francisco
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is owned and operated by the City of San Francisco. The airport is located 14 miles south of downtown San Francisco in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County. It is the principal commercial service airport for the San Francisco Bay Area, offering nonstop flights to Asia, the South Pacific, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the US.
The airport has a rich history, dating back to 1927 when the City and County of San Francisco leased 150 acres of land for a temporary and experimental airport project. The airfield was officially named the Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco and was dedicated in a ceremony on May 7, 1927. San Francisco then purchased the property and surrounding areas in 1930, expanding the site to 1,112 acres. The airport's name was changed to San Francisco Airport in 1931, and "International" was added at the end of World War II as overseas service expanded.
Today, SFO is a major aviation hub, ranking 9th in the United States in terms of passenger traffic and 13th in terms of air cargo tonnage, according to 2010 data. The airport served approximately 39.7 million passengers and handled nearly 400,000 total flight operations in Fiscal Year 2010-11. SFO is known for its world-class facilities, offering a convenient Rental Car Center, an automated and free AirTrain system, and an array of shopping and dining options.
The airport has four terminals (1, 2, 3, and International) and seven concourses with a total of 120 gates. The International Terminal, designed by Craig W. Hartman, is the largest in North America and features earthquake-resistant design. SFO has also been a pioneer in honouring LGBTQ community leaders, with Terminal 1 being renamed after gay rights activist Harvey Milk in 2019.
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It is 14 miles south of downtown San Francisco
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located 14 miles south of downtown San Francisco. It is situated in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County, between the Bayshore Freeway (U.S. Highway 101) and the San Francisco Bay. The airport is owned and operated by the City of San Francisco, despite being outside the city's boundaries. In fact, it is policed by the SFPD Airport Detail, indicating its connection to the city.
The airport's location in San Mateo County is notable, as it is outside the City and County of San Francisco's jurisdiction. This unique situation has led to some interesting legal considerations, as seen in the case of Air Cal, et. al. v. CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, where the airport's location played a role in the outcome. Nonetheless, the City of San Francisco does own property outside its jurisdictional boundaries, as seen with the Ontario International Airport, which is part of the City of Los Angeles's boundaries.
San Francisco International Airport is a major hub for air travel, ranking 9th in the United States for passenger traffic and 13th for air cargo tonnage in 2010. It serves as a gateway for Pacific traffic and is a domestic hub for United Airlines, offering nonstop flights to various destinations worldwide. The airport has four terminals and seven concourses, with a total of 120 gates. The International Terminal, designed by Craig W. Hartman, is the largest in North America and features earthquake protection.
The airport is easily accessible via the AirTrain, which connects all terminals and parking facilities. Additionally, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) trains provide a direct connection to San Francisco, Oakland, and other cities in the Bay Area. SamTrans buses, operated by San Mateo County, also serve the airport, connecting it to Caltrain via a transfer at Millbrae Station.
In summary, San Francisco International Airport's location 14 miles south of downtown highlights its proximity to the city while also placing it in the unique position of being in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County. This location has legal implications but also underscores the airport's role as a significant transportation hub for the region.
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The airport has nonstop flights to six regions
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located in San Mateo County, California, 13 to 14 miles south of downtown San Francisco. The airport has four terminals and seven concourses, with a total of 120 gates. It is the principal commercial service airport for the San Francisco Bay Area.
The airport offers nonstop flights to six regions: Asia, the South Pacific, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the US. These flights are serviced by 53 airlines, including major carriers such as United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and JetBlue. The airport is easily accessible via the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, which connects the airport to San Francisco, Oakland, and other cities in the Bay Area.
The International Terminal, which opened in 2000, is the largest in North America and boasts a unique design that protects against earthquakes. It features quick-service versions of popular San Francisco Bay Area restaurants, showcasing the region's culinary offerings to visitors. The terminal is a common-use facility, with gates and ticketing areas shared among international and domestic carriers.
In addition to its extensive nonstop flight offerings, San Francisco International Airport also provides connecting flights to numerous other domestic and international destinations. The airport is committed to passenger service and care and provides world-class facilities, shopping, and dining options for travellers.
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It is the world's first airport with an LGBTQ+ leader's name
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located in San Mateo County, California, 14 miles south of downtown San Francisco. The airport is the principal commercial service airport for the San Francisco Bay Area, offering nonstop flights to Asia, South Pacific, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the US.
In 2019, San Francisco International Airport became the world's first airport to have a terminal named after an LGBTQ+ leader. The terminal is named after Harvey Milk, an American politician, and equal rights activist who made history as California's first openly gay elected official. Milk served on San Francisco's Board of Supervisors for 11 months before his assassination in 1978. The terminal, officially called Harvey Milk Terminal 1, features Boarding Area B (BAB) with nine gates, free Wi-Fi, domestic and international gates, food and beverage concessions, a kids' play area, a yoga room, and a pet relief area. The terminal also features SFO's first gender-neutral restrooms, a fitting inclusion to honour Milk's legacy of fighting for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The campaign to name the terminal after Harvey Milk began in 2011 when San Francisco's Human Rights Commission released a report on bisexual visibility, titled "Bisexual Invisibility: Impacts and Regulations". In 2013, San Francisco Board of Supervisors member David Campos started a campaign to have the entire airport renamed after Milk, but this was turned down. In 2018, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and mayor Mark Farrell approved the plan to rename Terminal 1 after Milk and install artwork memorializing him.
San Francisco has a rich history of LGBTQ+ activism and culture. In 1966, SIR opened America's first gay and lesbian community centre in the city, and the same year saw one of the first recorded transgender riots in US history, the Compton's Cafeteria Riot. The first National Bisexual Conference in America was held in San Francisco in 1990, with over 450 people in attendance. The city has also been home to various LGBTQ+ organisations, such as the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance, the Daughters of Bilitis, and the Alice B. Toklas Memorial Democratic Club.
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Frequently asked questions
San Francisco International Airport is located in San Mateo County.
San Francisco International Airport is owned by the City of San Francisco, but it is located outside of the City and County of San Francisco's boundaries.
The airport's postal address is San Francisco International Airport, Millbrae, CA 94030.
You can get to San Francisco from the airport by taking the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) trains, which connect the airport directly to San Francisco and other cities across the San Francisco Bay Area.
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