Ruth Haines
San Francisco International Airport, commonly referred to by its airport code, SFO, is the primary international airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area. It is the second-busiest airport in California, after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and the 29th-busiest in the world. The airport has four terminals and seven concourses, with a total of 120 gates. Terminal 1 has been renamed after gay rights activist Harvey Milk, making it the world's first airport terminal named after a leader of the LGBTQ community.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | San Francisco International Airport |
| Airport Code | SFO |
| Location | 13 miles (21km) south of San Francisco, California |
| Terminals | 4 (1, 2, 3, and International) |
| Concourses | 7 |
| Gates | 120 |
| Destinations | Nearly 200 |
| Passengers (2012) | 44,399,885 |
| Aircraft Operations | 425,000 |
| Ranking in California | 2nd busiest |
| Ranking Worldwide | 29th busiest |
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What You'll Learn
San Francisco International Airport's code is SFO
San Francisco International Airport is located approximately 13 miles (21km) south of San Francisco, California. It is the biggest and busiest airport in the San Francisco Bay Area, serving as the primary international airport for the region. The airport code for San Francisco International Airport is SFO.
The airport's code, SFO, is an example of a three-letter airport code, which was introduced by the IATA when two-letter codes became insufficient as the number of airports increased. The only requirement for these new three-letter codes was that each one be distinct. Some airports added an X to their two-letter codes, while others used the first three letters of the city's name. In the case of San Francisco International Airport, the code "SFO" was likely chosen for its convenience, with the letter "O" corresponding to the "O" at the end of "San Francisco".
San Francisco International Airport features four terminals (1, 2, 3, and International) and seven concourses, with a total of 120 gates arranged alphabetically in a counterclockwise ring. Terminals 1, 2, and 3 handle domestic and pre-cleared flights, while the International Terminal caters to international flights and some domestic routes. The airport offers nonstop flights to destinations across Asia, the South Pacific, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the US.
The airport has a rich history, dating back to World War II when it served as a Coast Guard base and Army Air Corps training and staging base. Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) operated from SFO after World War II, offering weekly flights to Honolulu and other Pacific destinations. Today, San Francisco International Airport is a hub for Alaska Airlines and serves as the primary transpacific gateway for United Airlines.
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SFO is the second-busiest airport in California
San Francisco International Airport, commonly referred to by its airport code, SFO, is the second-busiest airport in California. It is the primary international airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area. During World War II, the airport served as a Coast Guard base and Army Air Corps training and staging base. It was called Naval Auxiliary Air Facility Mills Field and Coast Guard Air Station, San Francisco.
SFO has four terminals (1, 2, 3, and International) and seven concourses, with a total of 120 gates arranged alphabetically in a counterclockwise ring. Terminal 1 (B Gates) and Terminal 2 (C and D Gates) handle domestic and pre-cleared flights, while the International Terminal (A and G Gates) handles international and some domestic flights. Terminal 3 is used for United Airlines' domestic flights.
SFO offers nonstop flights to Asia, the South Pacific, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the US. It is the primary transpacific gateway for United Airlines and a hub for Alaska Airlines. During the 1990s and the dot-com boom, SFO became the sixth busiest airport in the world. However, since 2001, it has fallen out of the top 20 busiest airports globally and is now ranked 29th.
The airport has a rich history of aviation, with various airlines operating from it over the years, including Pan American World Airways (Pan Am), Pacific Air Lines, Delta Air Lines, and National Airlines. SFO was also among the first airports in the US to install moving walkways inside a terminal, with a 450-foot (140 m) set opening in Concourse B in 1964, the world's longest at the time.
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SFO has four terminals and seven concourses
San Francisco International Airport, commonly referred to by its airport code, SFO, has four terminals and seven concourses. The four terminals are Terminal 1 (renamed the Harvey Milk Terminal in 2018), Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal. Terminal 1 handles domestic and pre-cleared flights and is composed of Boarding Area B, which has nine gates (B gates). Terminal 2, the oldest terminal building still standing, also handles domestic and pre-cleared flights and has two boarding areas: C and D gates. Terminal 3, formerly known as the North Terminal, is used for United Airlines' domestic flights and has two boarding areas: E and F gates. The International Terminal handles international flights and some domestic flights, with gates A and G.
The seven concourses are arranged alphabetically in a counterclockwise ring, with a total of 120 gates. The concourses are Piers B, C, D, and E, which are lettered sequentially from north to south, as well as Boarding Areas B, E, and F. Boarding Area B has nine gates, while Boarding Areas E and F have 13 and 18 gates, respectively.
The airport offers nonstop flights to Asia, South Pacific, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the US, and is known for its world-class facilities, shopping, and dining. It is located approximately 13 miles (21 km) south of San Francisco, California, and is easily accessible via the BART train, which takes about 45 minutes from downtown. The airport is well-organized and clean, with positive reviews for its tasty food options, although they are reportedly overpriced.
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SFO offers nonstop flights to six regions
San Francisco International Airport, commonly referred to by its airport code, SFO, offers non-stop flights to six regions: Asia, the South Pacific, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the US. SFO is the second-busiest airport in California and the 29th-busiest in the world. It is the primary transpacific gateway for United Airlines and a hub for Alaska Airlines.
The airport has four terminals (1, 2, 3, and International) and seven concourses with a total of 120 gates. Terminal 1 (B gates), Terminal 2 (C and D gates), and Terminal 3 (E and F gates) handle domestic and pre-cleared flights. Terminal 2 is the oldest terminal building, completed in 1954 as the Central Terminal with four concourses. Terminal 3, formerly known as the "North Terminal", has a solar roof installed in 2007 that powers all of its lights during the day. The International Terminal (A and G gates) handles international flights and some domestic flights.
SFO has a rich history, dating 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, Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) began service from SFO with flights to Honolulu and other Pacific destinations. Today, SFO offers nonstop flights to over 130 destinations worldwide, providing travellers with a convenient gateway to the world.
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SFO was used as a Coast Guard base during World War II
The San Francisco International Airport, commonly referred to by its airport code, SFO, played a significant role during World War II. From 1944 until the end of the war, SFO served as a Coast Guard base and an Army Air Corps training and staging ground. The base was officially known as the Naval Auxiliary Air Facility Mills Field and Coast Guard Air Station, San Francisco.
During this period, Pan American World Airways (Pan Am), which had previously operated international flying boat services from Treasure Island, was forced to relocate its Pacific and Alaska seaplane operations to SFO. This relocation was necessary as Treasure Island had been taken over for military purposes.
Following World War II, Pan Am resumed its operations from SFO, initially offering five weekly flights to Honolulu, with one of these flights continuing on to Canton Island, Fiji, New Caledonia, and Auckland. The airline's first post-war flight departed Australia on September 15, 1946.
The Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco, located 13 miles (21 km) south of downtown San Francisco, California, continues to play an important role today. It operates as one of five air stations in the Eleventh Coast Guard District, with a primary mission of maritime search and rescue along 300 miles (480 km) of coastline, from Point Conception to Fort Bragg.
The air station has expanded its missions over time to include homeland security, maritime law enforcement, environmental protection, aids to navigation, logistics, and cliff rescue. It currently operates four MH-65 Dolphin helicopters, ensuring around-the-clock coverage for its area of responsibility.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport code for San Francisco International Airport is SFO.
The airport code SFO was chosen because it contains the letter "O", which is the last letter of "San Francisco".
No, San Francisco International Airport is the second-busiest airport in California after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
San Francisco International Airport has 120 gates arranged alphabetically in a counterclockwise ring.
Popular tourist attractions in San Francisco include cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge, riding a cable car, and visiting Alcatraz.
