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San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the primary airport for the San Francisco Bay Area in California. The airport is located 12-14 miles from downtown San Francisco and is 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 California. But where does the name SFO come from?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Orlando Sanford International Airport |
| IATA | SFB |
| ICAO | KSFB |
| FAA LID | SFB |
| Owner | Sanford Airport Authority |
| Operating Base | Allegiant Air |
| Location | Sanford, Florida, United States |
| Distance from Downtown Orlando | 20 miles |
| Distance from Walt Disney World | Twice the distance compared to Orlando International Airport |
| Year Commissioned | November 3, 1942 |
| Year of Control Transfer to Sanford | 1969 |
| Year of Name Change to Orlando Sanford International Airport | 1996 |
| Parking Capacity | 830 spaces |
| Number of Runways | 4 |
| Air Traffic | Medium |
| Air Traffic Composition | Air Carrier, Air Taxi, and Flight Training |
| Operating Hours | 0630L – 2300L |
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What You'll Learn
- SFO is the International Air Transport Association (IATA) code for San Francisco International Airport
- The airport is located 12-14 miles from San Francisco in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County
- SFO is the largest airport in the Bay Area and the second busiest in California
- The airport is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco
- SFO functions as a hub for United Airlines and Alaska Airlines
SFO is the International Air Transport Association (IATA) code for San Francisco International Airport
The IATA was formed in 1945 to establish three-letter codes for airports, as the previous two-letter system was insufficient with the rapid advancement of aviation and the establishment of more airports. The SF in SFO is derived from 'San Francisco', and the O was likely added because the city's name ends with an 'O'.
SFO is located about 14 miles south of San Francisco, primarily in unincorporated San Mateo County on the San Francisco Peninsula, next to the San Francisco Bay. It is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco and serves as a major hub for United Airlines. During World War II, the airport was used as a military base for the Coast Guard and the Army Air Corps.
SFO has a long history of aviation milestones. In 1959, the airport welcomed its first jet service with TWA's Boeing 707-131s offering non-stop flights to New York. In the same year, Pacific Air Lines introduced the Fairchild F-27s, and by 1966 they were operating Boeing 727-100s from SFO. The airport was also among the first in the US to install moving walkways inside a terminal, with a 450-foot set opening in Concourse B in 1964.
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The airport is located 12-14 miles from San Francisco in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County
Orlando Sanford International Airport (IATA: SFB, ICAO: KSFB, FAA LID: SFB) is a medium-sized multi-use airport in Sanford, Florida, United States, near Orlando. The airport is located 20 miles north of Orlando International Airport (MCO/KMCO), which is the primary airport for Orlando.
Orlando Sanford International Airport is situated 12-14 miles from Orlando in an unincorporated area of Seminole County. The airport is a commercial, public-use airport that was built as Naval Air Station Sanford, a Master Jet Base for carrier-based attack and reconnaissance aircraft. It was utilised by the US Navy until 1969, after which the City of Sanford assumed control, renaming it Sanford Airport.
The airport has undergone several name changes over the years, including Sanford Regional Airport, Central Florida Regional Airport, and Orlando Sanford Regional Airport. It is currently known as Orlando Sanford International Airport. The airport has been striving to make air travel efficient, affordable, and comfortable for its passengers since 1971.
Orlando Sanford International Airport is home to the L3 Harris Airline Academy, which offers ab initio flight training for aspiring regional airline and international pilots. The airport has three parallel runways with staggered thresholds and one intersecting runway, contributing to its capacity for robust flight training operations.
The airport has experienced issues with a high number of bird strikes due to bird activity in the area, including large birds such as eagles.
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SFO is the largest airport in the Bay Area and the second busiest in California
San Francisco International Airport, commonly referred to by its airport code, SFO, is the largest airport in the Bay Area. It is also the second busiest airport in California, after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
SFO is located in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County, approximately 12 miles (19 km) southeast of San Francisco. The airport has a San Francisco mailing address and zip code. It is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco.
SFO is a major hub for aviation on the West Coast. In 2023, it was ranked as the 13th busiest airport in the United States and the 29th busiest in the world by passenger traffic. It serves as the primary transpacific gateway for United Airlines and is a hub for Alaska Airlines.
The history of SFO can be traced back to World War II when it was used as a Coast Guard base and Army Air Corps training and staging base. The airport was called Naval Auxiliary Air Facility Mills Field and Coast Guard Air Station, San Francisco. After the war, the airport saw the arrival of several international carriers, including Pan American World Airways (Pan Am), Japan Airlines (JAL), and Lufthansa.
Over the years, SFO has undergone significant expansion and upgrades. In 1984, the Central Terminal was heavily rebuilt as the International Terminal, and it was modified again in 2008 as Terminal 2. The airport also has a long-planned extension of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, which opened in 2003, providing direct rail transportation to downtown San Francisco, Oakland, and the East Bay.
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The airport is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco. The airport is the primary international airport for the San Francisco Bay Area in California. It is the largest airport in the Bay Area and the second-busiest in California, after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
The City and County of San Francisco first leased 150 acres of land at the present airport site in March 1927 for a temporary and experimental airport project. The land was leased from the Mills Estate, and San Francisco held a dedication ceremony for the airfield, officially named the Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco, in May 1927. The airport's name was changed to San Francisco Airport in 1931 when the city purchased the land and surrounding areas, expanding the site to 1,112 acres. "International" was added to the name at the end of World War II as overseas service rapidly expanded.
The airport's code, SFO, is derived from the three-letter code distinctions established by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in 1945. Before IATA, most airports were identified by the two letters used by the National Weather Service codes, so San Francisco was SF. As aviation advanced and more airports were established, two-letter codes were no longer sufficient, and IATA required each destination to have three letters.
SFO offers nonstop flights to Asia, the South Pacific, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and within the US. It is a hub for United Airlines and Alaska Airlines and functions as United's primary transpacific gateway and a major maintenance facility. The airport has experienced delays due to weather conditions and has proposed extending its runways to accommodate arrivals and departures during periods of low visibility.
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SFO functions as a hub for United Airlines and Alaska Airlines
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the primary international airport for the San Francisco Bay Area in California. It is the second-busiest airport in California, after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). SFO is located in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County, approximately 12 miles southeast of San Francisco. The airport is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco and acts as a major hub for both United Airlines and Alaska Airlines.
United Airlines has a significant presence at SFO, with the airline investing heavily in the airport. In 2025, United plans to offer 20% more flights from SFO compared to 2024, and the airline has also undertaken a terminal refresh program to reinforce its dominance at the airport. United flies to 111 cities worldwide from San Francisco and offers approximately 300 daily flights during the summer months. The airline has also introduced new long-haul flights from SFO, including a direct service to Adelaide, Australia. United's SFO hub serves as the airline's primary transpacific gateway and is a major maintenance facility.
United's dominance at SFO can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the airline has a robust originating and transferring passenger population at the airport. Secondly, SFO's central location on the west coast is ideal for connections from cities such as Phoenix, Denver, San Diego, and Sacramento. Additionally, there are limited alternatives in the region for long-haul flights, giving United a competitive advantage.
Alaska Airlines also has a strong presence at SFO, with the airport serving as one of its hubs. While Alaska Airlines faces competition from United on short-haul flights, it offers a convenient option for passengers travelling within the West Coast region. Some passengers based in SFO may prefer to use Alaska Airlines for their West Coast flights, especially if they have a choice of airlines at their destination airport, such as JFK in New York or LAX.
SFO's history as an aviation hub dates back to World War II when it was used as a Coast Guard base and Army Air Corps training and staging base. After the war, airlines such as Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) and Southwest Airways began operating from the airport, offering flights to Honolulu and international destinations. Today, SFO continues to be a bustling aviation hub, serving as a vital gateway to the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.
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Frequently asked questions
SFO stands for San Francisco International Airport.
The 'O' in SFO is likely because of the 'O' in Francisco. Before the International Air Transport Association (IATA) was formed in 1945, most airports were identified by two-letter codes. As aviation advanced, three-letter codes were introduced, with some airports simply adding an 'X' to the end.
The three-letter code SFO first appeared in the American Aviation Air Traffic Guide in December 1947.
During World War II, the airport was used as a Coast Guard base and Army Air Corps training and staging base. It was called the Naval Auxiliary Air Facility Mills Field and Coast Guard Air Station, San Francisco. In 1944, Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) had to move its Pacific and Alaska seaplane operations to SFO after Treasure Island was converted into a military base.
