View source for San Francisco International Airport

{{Short description|Airport in San Mateo County, California, United States}}
{{Redirect|SFO|other uses|SFO (disambiguation)}}
{{About||the BART and AirTrain station|San Francisco International Airport station|the television series|San Francisco International Airport (TV series)}}
{{pp-move}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox airport
| name                = San Francisco International Airport
| ensign              = 
| ensign_size         = 
| ensign_alt          = 
| nativename          = 
| nativename-a        = 
| nativename-r        = 
| image               = File:Sfoairportlogo.png
| image_size          = <!-- if less than 220 -->
| image_alt           = 
| caption             = 
| image2              = San Francisco International Airport - aerial photo.jpg
| image2_size         = <!-- if less than 220 -->
| image2_alt          = 
| caption2            = Aerial view of San Francisco International Airport in March 2015
| IATA                = SFO
| ICAO                = KSFO
| FAA                 = SFO
| TC                  = 
| LID                 = 
| GPS                 = 
| WMO                 = 72494
| type                = Public
| owner-oper          = [[Government of San Francisco|City and County of San Francisco]]
| owner               = 
| operator            = 
| city-served         = [[San Francisco Bay Area]]
| location            = [[San Mateo County, California]], United States
| opened              = {{start date and age|1927|05|07}}
| closed              = <!-- {{end date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| passenger_services_ceased = <!-- {{end date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| hub                 = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[Alaska Airlines]]
  | [[United Airlines]]}}
| focus_city          = <!-- If more than one airline, use {{Unbulleted list|Airline1|Airline2}} -->
| operating_base      = <!-- If more than one airline, use {{Unbulleted list|Airline1|Airline2}} -->
| built               = <!-- military airports -->
| used                = <!-- military airports -->
| commander           = <!-- military airports -->
| occupants           = <!-- military airports -->
| timezone            = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
| utc                 = [[UTC−08:00]]
| summer              = PDT
| utcs                = [[UTC−07:00]]
| elevation-f         = 13
| elevation-m         = 4
| metric-elev         = yes
| coordinates         = {{coord|37|37|08|N|122|22|30|W|type:airport_region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| website             = {{URL|www.flysfo.com}}
| image_map           = KSFO Airport Diagram.svg
| image_mapsize       = 275
| image_map_alt       = 
| image_map_caption   = FAA airport diagram
| mapframe            = yes
| mapframe-zoom       = 9
| mapframe-wikidata   = yes
| pushpin_map         = 
| pushpin_mapsize     = 
| pushpin_map_alt     = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| pushpin_relief      = 
| pushpin_image       = 
| pushpin_label       = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_mark        = 
| pushpin_marksize    = 
| r1-number           = 10L/28R
| r1-length-f         = 11,870
| r1-length-m         = 3,618
| r1-surface          = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| r2-number           = 10R/28L
| r2-length-f         = 11,381
| r2-length-m         = 3,469
| r2-surface          = Asphalt
| r3-number           = 1R/19L
| r3-length-f         = 8,650
| r3-length-m         = 2,637
| r3-surface          = Asphalt
| r4-number           = 1L/19R
| r4-length-f         = 7,650
| r4-length-m         = 2,332
| r4-surface          = Asphalt
| metric-rwy          = yes
| h1-number           = 
| h1-length-f         = 
| h1-length-m         = 
| h1-surface          = <!-- up to h12 -->
| stat1-header        = Total Passengers
| stat1-data          = 52,288,098
| stat2-header        = Aircraft operations
| stat2-data          = 386,507
| stat3-header        = Total cargo (tonnes)
| stat3-data          = 561,594
| stat-year           = 2024
| footnotes           = Source: San Francisco International Airport<ref>{{cite web|url=https://flysfo.com/sites/default/files/2025-01/Dec%202024%20and%20CYTD%20SFO%20Air%20Traffic%20Summary.pdf|title=SFO Airport 2024 Final Air Traffic Summary|website=flysfo.com|accessdate=January 28, 2025}}</ref> and [[Federal Aviation Administration|FAA]]<ref name=FAA>{{FAA-airport|ID=SFO|use=PU|own=PU|site=02187.*A}}, effective July 10, 2025.</ref>
}}

'''San Francisco International Airport''' {{airport codes|SFO|KSFO|SFO}} is the primary [[international airport]] for the [[San Francisco Bay Area]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[California]]. Owned and operated by the [[City and County of San Francisco]], the airport has a San Francisco mailing address and ZIP Code, although it is situated in an unincorporated area of neighboring [[San Mateo County, California|San Mateo County]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st06_ca/county/c06081_san_mateo/DC20BLK_C06081.pdf|title=2020 Census – Census Block Map: San Mateo County, CA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|location=[[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]|access-date=2022-08-03|pages=5–6 (PDF p. 6–7)|quote=San Francisco International Arprt}} (airport directly indicated on page 6 (PDF page 7))<br>{{cite gnis|type=retired|id=1653945|name=San Francisco International Airport|access-date=May 3, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-16 |title=San Francisco International Airport |url=https://www.flysfo.com/about-sfo/investor-relations/buy-sfo-bonds/sfo |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=www.flysfo.com |language=en}}</ref> approximately {{Convert|12|mi|km nmi}} southeast of  San Francisco.

SFO is the largest airport in the Bay Area and the second-busiest in the [[U.S. state|US State]] of California, following [[Los Angeles International Airport]] (LAX). In 2024, it ranked as the [[List of the busiest airports in the United States|13th-busiest airport in the United States]] and the [[World's busiest airports by passenger traffic|36th-busiest in the world]] by passenger traffic.<ref name="passengers-2017">{{cite report|url=http://www.panynj.gov/airports/pdf-traffic/ATR2017.pdf |title=Airports Council International – Worldwide Airport Traffic Report – Calendar Year 2017 |publisher=The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey|location=[[New York City|New York]] |access-date=May 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508101727/http://www.panynj.gov/airports/pdf-traffic/ATR2017.pdf |archive-date=May 8, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is a [[Airline hub|hub]] for [[United Airlines]], acting as the airline's primary transpacific gateway, and as a major maintenance facility. Additionally, SFO functions as a hub for [[Alaska Airlines]].

==History==
[[File:MillsField1928-1 (4503976478).jpg|thumb|Mills Field, San Francisco Airport (c. 1930s)]]

The [[City]] and [[County (United States)|County]] of [[San Francisco]] first leased {{convert|150|acre|}} at the present airport site on March 15, 1927, for what was then to be a temporary and experimental airport project.<ref name="History of SFO">{{cite web|url=https://www.flysfo.com/about-sfo/history-sfo|title=History of SFO|website=San Francisco International Airport|access-date=July 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731234550/https://www.flysfo.com/about-sfo/history-sfo|archive-date=July 31, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> San Francisco held a dedication ceremony at the airfield, officially named the Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco, on May 7, 1927,<ref name="Mills Field Dedication Ceremony Photo">{{cite web|title=negative: Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco|website=SFO Museum|url=https://collection.sfomuseum.org/objects/1511949695|date=May 7, 1927|access-date=March 1, 2022}}</ref> on the 150-acre cow pasture. The land was leased from the Mills Estate in an agreement made with [[Ogden L. Mills]] who oversaw the large tracts of property originally acquired by his grandfather, the banker [[Darius O. Mills]]. San Francisco purchased the property and the surrounding area expanding the site to {{convert|1112|acre|}} beginning in August 1930.<ref name="History of SFO" /> The airport's name was officially changed to San Francisco Airport in 1931 upon the purchase of the land. "International" was added at the end of [[World War II]] as overseas service rapidly expanded.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

The “SFO” was derived from when the airport used to be called “San Francisco-Oakland Airport” but has since dropped the “Oakland” part of the name. 

===Early operations===
The earliest scheduled carriers at the airport included [[Western Airlines|Western Air Express]], [[Maddux Air Lines]], and Century Pacific Lines.<ref name="History of SFO" /> [[United Airlines]] was formed in 1934 and quickly became the key carrier at the airport, with [[Douglas DC-3]] service to [[Los Angeles]] and [[New York City|New York]] beginning in January 1937. A new [[Airport terminal|passenger terminal]] opened in 1937, built with [[Public Works Administration]] funding.<ref name="History of SFO" /> The March 1939 Official Aviation Guide shows 18 airline departures on weekdays—seventeen United flights and one [[TWA]] flight. The August 1952 chart shows runway 1L 7,000 feet long, 1R 7,750 feet, 28L 6,500 feet, and 28R 8,870 feet.

In addition to United, Pacific Seaboard Air Lines flew between San Francisco and Los Angeles in 1933; the [[Bellanca CH-300]]s flew San Francisco–San Jose–Salinas–Monterey–Paso Robles–San Luis Obispo–Santa Maria–Santa Barbara–Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pacific Seaboard Air Lines |website=Airline Timetable Images |url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/cs33/cs33-1.jpg |date=Summer 1933 |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017163835/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/cs33/cs33-1.jpg |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Competition with United led Pacific Seaboard to move all of its operations to the eastern U.S., and rename itself [[Chicago and Southern Air Lines]] (C&S). It became a large domestic and international air carrier. Chicago & Southern was acquired by and merged into [[Delta Air Lines]] in 1953, giving Delta its first international routes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Family |publisher=Frontier Airlines |location=Atlanta |url=https://airportsterminalguides.com/frontier-airlines/frontier-airlines-sfo-terminal-san-francisco-international-airport/ |access-date=July 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716055127/https://airportsterminalguides.com/frontier-airlines/frontier-airlines-sfo-terminal-san-francisco-international-airport/ |archive-date=July 16, 2024 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> Delta used the route authority inherited from C&S to fly one of its first international services operated with [[Convair 880]] jet aircraft from San Francisco to [[Montego Bay]], [[Jamaica]], and [[Caracas]], [[Venezuela]], via intermediate stops in [[Dallas]] and [[New Orleans]] in 1962.<ref name=Delta1962>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/dl62/dl62-07.jpg |date=February 1, 1962 |title=Delta Air Lines system timetable |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017163836/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/dl62/dl62-07.jpg |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===World War II===
During World War II, the airport was used as a [[Coast guard|Coast Guard]] base and Army Air Corps training and staging base. The base was called [[Naval Auxiliary Air Facility Mills Field]] and [[Coast Guard Air Station, San Francisco]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.militarymuseum.org/cgassf.html|title=Historic California Airfields: Coast Guard Air Station, San Francisco, NAAS Mills Field, San Francisco Municipal Airport|website=www.militarymuseum.org}}</ref>  [[Pan Am|Pan American World Airways]] (Pan Am), which had operated international flying boat service from [[Treasure Island, San Francisco|Treasure Island]], had to move its Pacific and Alaska seaplane operations to SFO in 1944 after Treasure Island was expropriated for use as a military base.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} Pan Am began service from SFO after World War II with five weekly flights to [[Honolulu]], one of which continued to [[Canton Island]], [[Fiji]], [[New Caledonia]], and [[Auckland]].{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

===International operations===
The first service by foreign carriers was on [[Australian National Airways]] (ANA) [[Douglas DC-4]]s flown by [[British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines]]: [[Sydney]]–Auckland–Fiji–[[Kanton Island]]–Honolulu–San Francisco–[[Vancouver]], BC. The first flight left Australia on September 15, 1946.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/an1.htm |website=Airline Timetable Images |title=British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925073102/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/an1.htm |archive-date=September 25, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1947 [[Pan American World Airways]] began its "round the world" flights from SFO to [[Guam]], [[Japan]], the [[Philippines]], [[China]] and other countries; Pan Am also flew to [[Sydney]] from SFO.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/pa/pa47/pa47-02.jpg|title=Pan Am timetable, 1947|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115719/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/pa/pa47/pa47-02.jpg|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The year 1947 saw the start of United Airlines [[Douglas DC-6]] flights to [[Hawaii]] and [[Philippine Airlines]] flights to [[Manila]].<ref name="History of SFO" />

TWA began flying [[Lockheed Constellation]]s (L-1649A's) nonstop to [[Heathrow Airport|London Heathrow]] and [[Orly Airport|Paris Orly]] in 1957.<ref>{{cite web|title=TWA Skyliner Magazine, 1957-08-15_01|url=https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/twa/id/3418/|access-date=June 8, 2021|website=digital.shsmo.org|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=JP|date=September 16, 2019|title=The Cadillac of the Constellation Line|url=https://theavgeeks.com/2019/09/16/the-cadillac-of-the-constellation-line/|access-date=June 8, 2021|website=TheAvGeeks|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 1954 [[Qantas]] took over the ANA/BCPA route from SFO to Sydney; starting in 1959 their [[Boeing 707]]s flew to Sydney via Honolulu and [[Nadi]], Fiji, and in the other direction to New York and London.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/qf/qf5911/qf5911-4.jpg |date=November 6, 1959 |title=Qantas Timetable |website=Airline Timetable Images |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017163835/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/qf/qf5911/qf5911-4.jpg |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Pan Am scheduled [[Boeing 707-320]]s from Tokyo nonstop to SFO (winter only at first) starting in 1960–61; the westbound nonstops had to await the longer range Boeing 707-320B. [[British Overseas Airways Corporation]] (BOAC, a predecessor of [[British Airways]]) arrived in 1957; in 1960 its [[Bristol Britannia]]s flew London–New York City–San Francisco–Honolulu–Wake Island–Tokyo–Hong Kong as part of BOAC's around-the-world service.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com |date=April 24, 1960 |title=BOAC system timetable |website=Airline Timetable Images |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010202024400/http://www.timetableimages.com/ |archive-date=February 2, 2001 |url-status=live }}</ref> By 1961 BOAC had replaced the Britannias with [[Boeing 707]]s that did not require the fuel stop at the [[Wake Island Airfield]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com |date=August 1, 1961 |title=BOAC system timetable |website=Airline Timetable Images |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010202024400/http://www.timetableimages.com/ |archive-date=February 2, 2001 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Japan Airlines]] (JAL) arrived at SFO in 1954; in 1961 it was flying [[Douglas DC-8]]s San Francisco–Honolulu–Tokyo.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com |date=December 1, 1961 |title=Japan Airlines system timetable |website=Airline Timetable Images |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010202024400/http://www.timetableimages.com/ |archive-date=February 2, 2001 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1961 [[Lufthansa]] had begun serving SFO with Boeing 707s flying San Francisco–Montreal [[Dorval Airport]]–Paris [[Orly Airport]]–Frankfurt three days a week.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com |date=April 1, 1961 |title=Lufthansa system timetable |website=Airline Timetable Images |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010202024400/http://www.timetableimages.com/ |archive-date=February 2, 2001 |url-status=live }}</ref> Lufthansa operated [[Boeing 720B]]s on this routing in 1963 along with Boeing 707s to Frankfurt via Montreal and London [[Heathrow Airport]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com |date=January 1, 1963 |title=Lufthansa system timetable |website=Airline Timetable Images |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010202024400/http://www.timetableimages.com/ |archive-date=February 2, 2001 |url-status=live }}</ref> Pan Am/Panagra service from SFO to South America was taken over in the late 1960s by [[Braniff International]], which operated [[Douglas DC-8]]-62s to SFO after Braniff's acquisition of Panagra.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com |date=July 1, 1968 |title=Braniff International system timetable |website=Airline Timetable Images |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010202024400/http://www.timetableimages.com/ |archive-date=February 2, 2001 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1970 [[CP Air]] (formerly [[Canadian Pacific Air Lines]]) [[Boeing 737-200]]s flew nonstop to Vancouver, BC, and on to Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com |date=July 15, 1970 |title=CP Air system timetable |website=Airline Timetable Images |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010202024400/http://www.timetableimages.com/ |archive-date=February 2, 2001 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Domestic expansion===
[[File:SFO Terminal Dedication (5166008090).jpg|thumb|right|Opening gala at the Central Passenger Terminal on August 27, 1954]]

The first nonstops to the U.S. east coast were United [[Douglas DC-7]]s in 1954. The airport's new Terminal Building opened on August 27, 1954. The large display of aircraft including a [[Convair B-36 Peacemaker]] bomber, was a marvel for its time.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/convair-b--peacemaker/article_88a9e0b5-7a77-57ae-b88b-b66796ff63ee.html |title=Convair B-36 'Peacemaker' |author=Fredricks, Darold |newspaper=San Mateo Daily Journal |date=July 1, 2013 |access-date=August 4, 2017}}</ref><ref name="intlterminalopen">{{cite news |title=A Guide to the New International Wing|first=Marshall|last=Wilson| url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2000/12/04/MN147657.DTL|newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|pages=A–1|publisher=Hearst Communications|date=December 4, 2000|access-date=August 3, 2009}}</ref> The building became the Central Terminal with the addition of the South Terminal and the North Terminal and was heavily rebuilt as the International Terminal in 1984 and then modified again as the current Terminal 2. Domestically, the April 1957 [[Official Airline Guide]] (OAG) lists 71 scheduled weekday departures on United (plus ten flights a week to Honolulu), 22 on [[Western Airlines]], 19 on Southwest Airways (which was later renamed [[Pacific Air Lines]]), 12 on [[Trans World Airlines]] (TWA), seven on [[American Airlines]] and three on [[Pacific Southwest Airlines]] (PSA). As for international flights, Pan American had 21 departures a week, [[Japan Airlines]] (JAL) had five, and [[Qantas]] also had five.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

===Southwest/Pacific/Air West===
[[File:DC-3 Southwest N63106 (7688847780).jpg|thumb|right|[[Southwest Airways]] [[C-47]] landing at SFO in 1948]]
[[Southwest Airways]] began flying scheduled passenger operations from SFO in 1946 with war surplus [[C-47]]s, the military version of the [[Douglas DC-3]]. In the late 1950s, [[Southwest Airways]] changed its name to [[Pacific Air Lines]], which was based at SFO.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com |date=April 28, 1957 |title=Southwest Airways – The Pacific Air Line system timetable |website=Airline Timetable Images |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010202024400/http://www.timetableimages.com/ |archive-date=February 2, 2001 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1959, Pacific Air Lines began flying new [[Fairchild F-27]]s from SFO<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com |date=July 1, 1959 |title=Pacific Air Lines system timetable |website=Airline Timetable Images |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010202024400/http://www.timetableimages.com/ |archive-date=February 2, 2001 |url-status=live }}</ref> and by 1966 was flying new [[Boeing 727-100]]s from the airport.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airtimes.com/cgat/usb/hughes/detail/rw660720insidecover.jpg |date=July 20, 1966 |title=Pacific Air Lines route map |website=AirTimes – A Source for Airline History |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311180742/http://www.airtimes.com/cgat/usb/hughes/detail/rw660720insidecover.jpg |archive-date=March 11, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Pacific used the 727 to introduce the first jet service from San Francisco to several cities in California including [[Bakersfield]], [[Eureka, California|Eureka]]/[[Arcata]], [[Fresno]], [[Lake Tahoe]], [[Monterey]] and [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]].

In 1968 Pacific merged with [[Bonanza Air Lines]] and [[West Coast Airlines]] to form Air West, which also had its headquarters at SFO. West Coast Airlines had served SFO mainly with [[Douglas DC-9]]-10s and [[Fairchild F-27]]s to Oregon and Washington states.<ref>{{cite web|title=West Coast Airlines route map|url=http://www.departedflights.com/WC042968.html|website=departedflights.com|access-date=December 13, 2017|date=April 28, 1968|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214073232/http://www.departedflights.com/WC042968.html|archive-date=December 14, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1970, Air West was acquired by [[Howard Hughes]] who renamed the airline [[Hughes Airwest]], which continued to be based at the airport where it also operated a hub. By the late 1970s, the airline was operating an all-jet fleet of [[Boeing 727]]-200, [[Douglas DC-9]]-10, and [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30]] jetliners serving an extensive route network in the western U.S. with flights to Mexico and western Canada as well.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hughes Airwest route map|url=http://www.departedflights.com/RW011578.html|website=departedflights.com|access-date=December 13, 2017|date=January 15, 1978|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214073010/http://www.departedflights.com/RW011578.html|archive-date=December 14, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Hughes Airwest was eventually acquired by Minneapolis-based [[Republic Airlines (1979–1986)]] in 1980 and the airline's headquarters office at SFO was closed.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

===Jet age===
The jet age arrived at SFO in March 1959 when TWA introduced [[Boeing 707-131]]s nonstop to New York [[Idlewild Airport]] (which was renamed [[JFK Airport]] in 1963). United then constructed a large maintenance facility in San Francisco for its new [[Douglas DC-8]]s, which were also flying nonstop to New York. In July 1959 the first [[jetway|jetway bridge]] was installed at SFO, one of the first in the United States. On the cover of January 3, 1960, American Airlines timetable contained this message: "''NOW! 707 JET FLAGSHIP SERVICE – NONSTOP SAN FRANCISCO – NEW YORK: 2 FLIGHTS DAILY''"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.60sairlineantiques.net/timetables/American-Jan-1960.pdf |date=January 3, 1960 |title=American Airlines |website=1960s Airline & Airliner Antiques |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017163835/http://www.60sairlineantiques.net/timetables/American-Jan-1960.pdf |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Also in 1960, Western Airlines was operating "champagne flights" with [[Boeing 707]]s and [[Lockheed L-188 Electra]]s to Los Angeles, Seattle, San Diego and Portland, Oregon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/wa/wa60/wa60-1.jpg |date=September 6, 1960 |title=Western Airlines system timetable |website=Airline Timetable Images |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017163836/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/wa/wa60/wa60-1.jpg |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1961 the airport had helicopter service on [[San Francisco and Oakland Helicopter Airlines]] (known as SFO Helicopter Airlines, and as SFO Helicopter) with 68 flights a day. Helicopters flew from SFO to downtown heliports in San Francisco and Oakland, to a new heliport near the [[Berkeley Marina]] and to [[Oakland International Airport|Oakland Airport]] (OAK). In its timetable, SFO Helicopter Airlines, which was based at the airport, described its rotorcraft as "modern, jet turbine powered [[Sikorsky S-62]] ten passenger amphibious helicopters".<ref>{{cite web |date=September 1, 1961 |title=SFO Helicopter Airlines |website=Airline Timetable Images |url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/oh/oh6109/oh6109-2.jpg |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017163836/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/oh/oh6109/oh6109-2.jpg |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=October 26, 1975 |title=SFO Helicopter Airlines |website=Airline Timetable Images |url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/oh/oh7510/oh7510-2.jpg |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017163835/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/oh/oh7510/oh7510-2.jpg |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

By 1962 [[Delta Air Lines]] was flying [[Convair 880]]s to SFO on one its first international jet services, San Francisco–[[Dallas Love Field]]–New Orleans–Montego Bay, Jamaica–Caracas, Venezuela.<ref name=Delta1962/> Also in 1962, [[National Airlines (1934–1980)|National Airlines]] began flying [[Douglas DC-8]]s San Francisco–Houston [[Hobby Airport]]–New Orleans–Miami.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/na62/na62-3.jpg |date=March 2, 1962 |title=National Airlines |website=Airline Timetable Images |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091500/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/na62/na62-3.jpg |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> SFO was among the first airports in the United States to install [[moving walkway]]s inside a terminal. A {{convert|450|ft|m|adj=mid}} set opened on May 20, 1964, in Concourse B and was the world's longest moving walkways at the time.<ref name="Chronicle-Moving">{{cite news |last=Hartlaub |first=Peter |date=October 23, 2024 |title=SFO's bouncy moving walkway is famous. Here's why it's about to disappear |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/totalsf/article/sfo-bouncy-moving-walkway-airport-19845449.php |work=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=November 5, 2024}}</ref>

===Service in California===
By 1960, all [[Pacific Southwest Airlines]] (PSA) flights out of SFO were operated with [[Lockheed L-188 Electra]]s nonstop to Los Angeles ([[LAX]]) and Burbank (BUR) with some flights continuing to San Diego.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/ps62/ps62-2.jpg |date=June 25, 1962 |title=PSA – Pacific Southwest Airlines |website=Airline Timetable Images |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085657/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/ps62/ps62-2.jpg |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> In summer 1962 PSA had 14 departures a day Monday through Thursday to southern California, 21 departures on Friday and 22 on Sunday. In 1965 PSA was operating new [[Boeing 727-100]]s which were joined in 1967 by [[Boeing 727-200]]s and [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30]]s.<ref name=PSA>{{cite web |title=PSA History |website=Pacific Southwest Airlines History Page |url=http://www.psa-history.org/about_psa/history/ |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907125313/http://www.psa-history.org/about_psa/history |archive-date=September 7, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1974 PSA was flying two wide body [[Lockheed L-1011 TriStar]]s.<ref name=PSA/> After the [[Airline Deregulation Act]] of 1978, PSA expanded outside of California.

In 1967, another [[intrastate airline]] joined PSA at SFO: [[Air California]], flying [[Lockheed L-188 Electra]]s nonstop to Orange County Airport (SNA, now [[John Wayne Airport]]).{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} Like PSA, Air California (later renamed [[AirCal]]) eventually became an all-jet airline and expanded outside of California. AirCal was merged into [[American Airlines]] while PSA was merged into [[USAir]] (later renamed [[US Airways]] which in turn eventually merged with [[American Airlines]]).

===Earthquake and planned Bay fill expansion===
[[File:San Francisco International Airport at night.jpg|left|thumb|San Francisco International Airport at night in November 2005|alt=The building of an airport at night with a large central building with several lit spokes of the terminals.]]
The airport closed following the [[Loma Prieta earthquake]] on October 17, 1989, reopening the following morning.<ref>{{cite news|title=Search For Bodies to Take Days—State Puts Toll at 273, Then Says It Is Uncertain|first=Kevin|last=Roderick|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-19-mn-344-story.html|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=October 19, 1989|access-date=September 5, 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701122003/http://articles.latimes.com/1989-10-19/news/mn-344_1_downtown-san-francisco?pg=3|archive-date=July 1, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Minor damage to the runways was quickly repaired.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/loma-prieta/ci_26703367/loma-prieta-earthquake-mercury-news-first-day-coverage|title=Loma Prieta earthquake: The Mercury News' first-day coverage, afternoon paper|author=Christopher H. Schmitt, Mercury News|date=October 10, 2014|newspaper=Mercury News|access-date=May 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826000606/http://www.mercurynews.com/loma-prieta/ci_26703367/loma-prieta-earthquake-mercury-news-first-day-coverage|archive-date=August 26, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1989, a master plan and [[Environmental Impact Report]] were prepared to guide development over the next two decades.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EL64AAAAIAAJ |title=Environmental Impact Report for the San Francisco International Airport Master Plan |publisher=Earth Metrics Inc. and Jefferson Associates, prepared for the city of San Francisco and California State Clearinghouse |date=1989 |access-date=December 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105110317/https://books.google.com/books/about/San_Francisco_International_Airport_mast.html?id=EL64AAAAIAAJ |archive-date=January 5, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>
During the boom of the 1990s and the [[dot-com bubble|dot-com boom]] SFO became the sixth [[World's busiest airports by passenger traffic|busiest]] airport in the world, but since 2001, when the boom ended, SFO has fallen out of the top 20.<ref name="passengers-2013">{{cite web |url=http://www.panynj.gov/airports/pdf-traffic/ATR2013.pdf |title=Airports Council International – Worldwide Airport Traffic Report – The calendar Year 2013 |publisher=The Port Authority of NY & NJ |access-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204422/http://www.panynj.gov/airports/pdf-traffic/ATR2013.pdf |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> United Express turboprops were scheduled 60 minutes apart to the shuttle connecting passengers between SFO and nearby [[San Jose International Airport]] during the boom era.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} United Groundlink supplemented this service with alternate 60-minute frequencies.

[[File:SFO international terminal.jpg|right|thumb|San Francisco International Terminal at night in November 2009]]
A $2.4&nbsp;billion International Terminal Complex opened in December 2000, replacing Terminal 2 (known then as the International Terminal).<ref name="intlterminalopen"/> The new International Terminal includes the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Museum and Library and the Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, as part of the SFO Museum.<ref name="sfomuseum">{{cite web|title=San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library & Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum|url=http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library|work=SFO Museum|publisher=San Francisco Airport Commission|date=November 10, 2015|access-date=November 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023091453/http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library|archive-date=October 23, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> SFO's long-running museum exhibition program, now called SFO Museum, won unprecedented accreditation by the [[American Alliance of Museums]] in 1999.<ref name="sfomuseum_aam">{{cite web|title=San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library & Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum – Mission Statement and History|url=http://www.flysfo.com/museum/about/mission-statement|work=SFO Museum|publisher=San Francisco Airport Commission|date=November 10, 2015|access-date=November 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107084600/http://www.flysfo.com/museum/about/mission-statement|archive-date=November 7, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

SFO experiences delays (known as ''[[Air traffic flow control|flow control]]'') in overcast weather when only two of the airport's four runways can be used at a time because the centerlines of the parallel runway sets (01R/01L and 28R/28L) are only {{convert|750|ft|m}} apart. Airport planners advanced proposals that would extend the airport's runways by adding up to {{convert|2|mi2|acre+ha}} of fill to [[San Francisco Bay]] and increase their separation by up to {{convert|4300|ft}} in 1998 to accommodate arrivals and departures during periods of low visibility. Other proposals included three floating runways, each approximately {{convert|12000|ft}} long and {{convert|1000|ft}} wide.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Wind-Over-Water-Planes-would-land-on-floating-3307809.php |title=Wind Over Water / Planes would land on floating runways built on S.F. Bay |last=McCabe|first=Michael|date=November 18, 1999 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |location=[[San Francisco]]|publisher=[[Hearst Communications]]|access-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804213941/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Wind-Over-Water-Planes-would-land-on-floating-3307809.php |archive-date=August 4, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The airport would be required by law to restore Bay land elsewhere in the Bay Area to offset the fill. One mitigation proposal would have the airport purchase and restore the {{convert|29000|acre}} of South Bay wetlands owned by [[Cargill|Cargill Salt]] to compensate for the new fill.<ref name=SFE-980605 /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/SFO-Director-Makes-a-Plea-For-Bay-Fill-2977211.php |title=Opinion: SFO Director Makes a Plea for Bay Fill |author=Martin, John |date=November 23, 1998 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804214307/http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/SFO-Director-Makes-a-Plea-For-Bay-Fill-2977211.php |archive-date=August 4, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> These expansion proposals met resistance from environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, fearing damage to the habitat of animals near the airport, recreational degradation (such as windsurfing) and bay water quality.<ref name=SFE-980605>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Runway-expansion-at-SFO-could-mean-filling-Bay-3086499.php |title=Runway expansion at SFO could mean filling Bay |author=McCormick, Erin |date=June 5, 1998 |newspaper=San Francisco Examiner |access-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804214527/http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Runway-expansion-at-SFO-could-mean-filling-Bay-3086499.php |archive-date=August 4, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Sierra-Club-Opposes-SFO-Bay-Fill-Plans-Airport-2917428.php |title=Sierra Club Opposes SFO Bay-Fill Plans / Airport says runway options vary |author=McCabe, Michael |date=July 31, 1999 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804213945/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Sierra-Club-Opposes-SFO-Bay-Fill-Plans-Airport-2917428.php |archive-date=August 4, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

State Senator [[John L. Burton]] introduced SB 1562 on February 18, 2000, to bypass the environmental impact study that would normally be required for a large project like the proposed Bay fill and mitigation in order to expedite construction. SB 1562 was signed into law on September 29, 2000.<ref>{{cite California statute |year=2000 |chapter=925 |page=6919 |title=An act to add and repeal Sections 21085.7 and 21151.10 of the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Bay-fill-for-runways-a-dismal-idea-3062442.php |title=Opinion: Bay fill for runways a dismal idea |author=Johnson, Huey D. |date=May 5, 2000 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804214439/http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Bay-fill-for-runways-a-dismal-idea-3062442.php |archive-date=August 4, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> A study commissioned by the airport and released in 2001 stated that alternatives to airport expansion, such as redirecting traffic to other regional airports (Oakland or San Jose), capping the number of flights, or charging higher landing fees at selected times of the day would result in higher fares and poorer service.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SFO-expansion-backers-argue-for-bay-fill-in-plan-2928157.php |title=SFO expansion backers argue for bay fill-in plan / Foes attack study, Feinstein endorses it |author1=Wilson, Marshall |author2=Pence, Angelica |date=April 25, 2001 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804214301/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SFO-expansion-backers-argue-for-bay-fill-in-plan-2928157.php |archive-date=August 4, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the proposal to build new runways on Bay fill continued to attract opposition from environmental groups and local residents.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Roar-of-disapproval-for-SFO-runway-expansion-plans-2893602.php |title=Roar of disapproval for SFO runway expansion plans |author=Wilson, Marshall |date=July 31, 2001 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804213739/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Roar-of-disapproval-for-SFO-runway-expansion-plans-2893602.php |archive-date=August 4, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The airport expansion cost was estimated at {{US$|1400000000|1998|round=-7}} in 1998,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SFO-s-Plan-For-New-Runways-Wetlands-trade-off-2976691.php |title=SFO's Plan For New Runways / Wetlands trade-off for bayfill proposed |author1=Wilson, Marshall |author2=McCabe, Michael |date=November 24, 1998 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804213736/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SFO-s-Plan-For-New-Runways-Wetlands-trade-off-2976691.php |archive-date=August 4, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> rising to {{US$|2200000000|1999|round=-7}} a year later, including an estimate of {{US$|200000000|1999|round=-6}} for the Cargill wetlands purchase and restoration.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/New-Price-Tag-On-SFO-Runways-Tops-2-Billion-2948878.php |title=New Price Tag On SFO Runways Tops $2 Billion |author-last1=Wilson|author-first1=Marshall|date=February 4, 1999 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804214353/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/New-Price-Tag-On-SFO-Runways-Tops-2-Billion-2948878.php |archive-date=August 4, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The delays during poor weather (among other reasons) caused some airlines, especially [[low-cost carrier]]s such as [[Southwest Airlines]], to shift all of their services from SFO to the [[Oakland International Airport|Oakland]] and [[San Jose International Airport|San Jose]] airports. However, Southwest eventually returned to San Francisco in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swamedia.com/channels/By-Category/pages/openings-closings |title=Press Room, Our History, Openings/Closings |website=Southwest Airlines |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906004130/http://www.swamedia.com/channels/By-Category/pages/openings-closings |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===BART to SFO===
A long-planned extension of the [[Bay Area Rapid Transit]] (BART) system to the airport opened on June 22, 2003, allowing passengers to board BART trains at the international or domestic terminals and have direct rail transportation to downtown [[San Francisco]], [[Oakland]], and the [[East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|East Bay]].<ref name="BARTtoSFOstart">{{cite news|title=History is Here – New Line Creates Transit Hub, Link to Future|first=Michael|last=Cabantuan|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/06/22/MN100396.DTL|newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|pages=A–1|publisher=Hearst Communications|date=June 22, 2003|access-date=August 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207130415/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2003%2F06%2F22%2FMN100396.DTL|archive-date=February 7, 2006|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 24, 2003, the [[AirTrain (SFO)|AirTrain]] people mover opened, transporting passengers between terminals, parking lots, the BART station, and the rental car center on small automatic trains.

===Recent developments===
SFO became the base of operations for start-up airline [[Virgin America]], with service to over 20 destinations. On October 4, 2007, an [[Airbus A380]] jumbo jet made its first visit to SFO.<ref name="A380 test">{{cite news|title=Airbus Jumbo Jet Makes Test Landing at SFO|first=George|last=Raine|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/05/BU0MSK4I0.DTL&hw=A380&sn=001&sc=1000|newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|pages=C–1|publisher=Hearst Communications|date=October 5, 2007|access-date=August 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506110841/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F10%2F05%2FBU0MSK4I0.DTL&hw=A380&sn=001&sc=1000|archive-date=May 6, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 14, 2008, SFO was voted Best International Airport in North America for 2008 in the World Airports Survey by [[Skytrax]].<ref name="NABest Airport">{{cite web|title=Airport of the Year 2008: Regional Results|url=http://www.worldairportawards.com/Awards_2008/ResultsFull.htm|work=Airport of the Year 2008|publisher=[[Skytrax]] Research|date=July 28, 2008|access-date=August 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080730031401/http://www.worldairportawards.com/Awards_2008/ResultsFull.htm|archive-date=July 30, 2008}}</ref> The following year on June 9, Skytrax announced SFO as the second-best International Airport in North America in the 2009 World Airports Survey, losing to [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]].<ref name="NABest Airport 2009">{{cite web |title=Airport of the Year 2009: Regional Results|url=http://www.worldairportawards.com/Awards_2009/ResultsFull.htm|work=Airport of the Year 2009|publisher=[[Skytrax]] Research|date=June 9, 2009|access-date=September 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529082020/http://www.worldairportawards.com/Awards_2009/ResultsFull.htm|archive-date=May 29, 2010}}</ref>

[[File:San Francisco International Airport - April 2018 (0465).jpg|thumb|right|upright|New control tower (photographed in April 2018)]]
In response to longstanding [[Federal Aviation Administration|FAA]] concerns that the airport's air traffic [[control tower]], located atop Terminal 2, could not withstand a major earthquake, on July 9, 2012, crews broke ground for a new torch-shaped tower.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/place/article/New-SFO-control-tower-will-have-a-torch-like-air-3664702.php |title=New SFO control tower will have a torch-like air |access-date=May 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227095639/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/place/article/New-SFO-control-tower-will-have-a-torch-like-air-3664702.php |archive-date=December 27, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> The new tower is located between Terminals 1 and 2, and the base of the tower building contains passages between the two terminals for passengers both pre- and post-security screening, which dictated the narrow tower base.<ref>{{cite news |last=King|first=John|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/place/article/New-SFO-control-tower-will-have-a-torch-like-air-3664702.php#item-39786 |title=New SFO control tower will have a torch-like air|date=June 27, 2012 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |location=[[San Francisco]]|publisher=[[Hearst Communications]]|access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924134039/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/place/article/New-SFO-control-tower-will-have-a-torch-like-air-3664702.php#item-39786 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Originally scheduled for completion in the summer of 2016 at a cost of $102&nbsp;million, the new tower began operations on October 15, 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ktvu.com/news/new-control-tower-at-san-francisco-airport-dedicated |title=New control tower at San Francisco airport dedicated|last=Vacar|first=Tom|work=[[Fox News]]|publisher=[[Fox Television Stations]]|location=[[San Francisco]]|date=October 11, 2016 |access-date=July 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012155827/http://www.ktvu.com/business/211060627-story |archive-date=October 12, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

SFO was one of several US airports that operated the [[Registered Traveler]] program from April 2007 until funding ended in June 2009. This program let travelers who had paid for pre-screening pass through security checkpoints quickly.<ref name="SFO 30 secs">{{cite news|title=Getting Through Airport Security with CLEAR|url=http://www.onthegroundtravel.com/adventures/tips/airport-security-with-clear/|work=On the Ground Travel|date=December 11, 2012|access-date=January 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130114610/http://www.onthegroundtravel.com/adventures/tips/airport-security-with-clear/|archive-date=January 30, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="flyclear">{{cite web|title=Clear Lanes Are No Longer Available|url=http://www.flyclear.com/|work=Clear|publisher=Verified Identity Pass, Inc.|date=June 25, 2009|access-date=August 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831042029/http://www.flyclear.com/|archive-date=August 31, 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggage and passenger screening is operated by [[Covenant Aviation Security]], a [[Transportation Security Administration]] contractor, nicknamed "Team SFO". SFO was the first airport in the United States to integrate in-line baggage screening into its [[baggage handling system]] and has been a model for other airports since the [[September 11 attacks]] in 2001.

In September 2018, SFO announced plans to use sustainable fuels after signing an agreement with fuel suppliers, airlines, and agencies.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.flysfo.com/media/press-releases/sfo-announces-landmark-agreement-use-sustainable-aviation-fuels|title=SFO Announces Landmark Agreement for Use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels |publisher=San Francisco International Airport|access-date=April 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425194241/https://www.flysfo.com/media/press-releases/sfo-announces-landmark-agreement-use-sustainable-aviation-fuels|archive-date=April 25, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> As part of the agreement, [[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]] and [[SkyNRG]] began supplying [[sustainable aviation fuel]] to [[KLM]], [[Scandinavian Airlines|SAS]], and [[Finnair]] flights operating out of SFO.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://biofuels-news.com/display_news/14217/shell_starts_supplying_sustainable_fuel_at_californian_airport/|title=Shell starts supplying sustainable fuel at Californian airport {{!}} Biofuels International Magazine|website=Biofuels International|date=December 12, 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=April 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425193620/https://biofuels-news.com/display_news/14217/shell_starts_supplying_sustainable_fuel_at_californian_airport/|archive-date=April 25, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.airport-world.com/news/general-news/6928-shell-supplies-sustainable-aviation-fuel-available-at-san-francisco-international-airport.html|title=Sustainable aviation fuel available at San Francisco International Airport|last=Bates|first=Joe|magazine=Airport World|publisher=[[Airports Council International]]|location=[[Montréal]]|language=en-gb|access-date=April 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425193618/http://www.airport-world.com/news/general-news/6928-shell-supplies-sustainable-aviation-fuel-available-at-san-francisco-international-airport.html|archive-date=April 25, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Like most other airports, SFO sustained a [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation|massive decline in traffic in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="Gilbertson">{{cite news |last1=Gilbertson |first1=Dawn |title=The Best and Worst Airports of 2022 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-best-and-worst-airports-of-2022-11668645546 |access-date=December 18, 2022 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=November 17, 2022}}</ref>  The only upside was that the decline reduced traffic to levels easily handled in all weather conditions.<ref name="Gilbertson" />  In 2022, SFO was ranked no. 1 by ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' on its list of Best Large U.S. Airports, on which the airport was ranked no. 1 for both reliability and convenience.<ref name="Gilbertson" />

On August 6, 2024, SFO unveiled a new logo and brand identity, retiring its current logo after 24 years of use. The logo will be phased in over several years.<ref name="SFGATE">{{cite web |url=https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/sfo-logo-change-19624111.php |title=SFO reveals new airport logo after 18-month process |website=sfgate.com |access-date=2024-10-24}}</ref>

==Runways==
[[File:SFO Map.svg|thumb|right|FAA runway diagram of SFO, with color added to terminals and runways]]

The airport covers {{convert|5,207|acre|km2}} at an [[elevation]] of {{convert|13.1|ft}}.<ref name="FAA" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://skyvector.com//airport/SFO/San-Francisco-International-Airport|title=SFO airport data at skyvector.com|website=skyvector.com}} FAA data effective July 10, 2025.</ref> It has four [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]] runways, arranged in two intersecting sets of parallel runways:<ref name=WeatherOps />
* Runway 01L/19R: {{convert|7650|×|200|ft|abbr=on}}, surface: [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]], has approved GPS approaches
* Runway 01R/19L: {{convert|8650|×|200|ft|abbr=on}}, surface: asphalt, [[Instrument landing system|ILS]]/[[Distance measuring equipment|DME]] equipped, and has approved GPS/VOR approaches
* Runway 10L/28R: {{convert|11870|×|200|ft|abbr=on}}, surface: asphalt, Category III ILS/DME equipped, and has approved GPS approaches
* Runway 10R/28L: {{convert|11381|×|200|ft|abbr=on}}, surface: asphalt, ILS/DME equipped, and has approved GPS approaches<ref name="FAA" />

Runways are named for their magnetic heading, to the nearest ten degrees; hence the runways at 14°<ref>{{cite web|url=http://155.178.201.160/d-tpp/1712/00375AD.PDF|title=Airport Diagram|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201045314/http://155.178.201.160/d-tpp/1712/00375AD.PDF|archive-date=December 1, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> from magnetic north are 01L/01R, and the runways at 284° are 28R/28L. The layout of the parallel runways (1L/1R and 28R/28L) was established in the 1950s, and have a separation (centerline to centerline) of only {{convert|750|ft}}.<ref name=WeatherOps />

During normal operations (approximately 81% of the time), domestic departures use Runways 1L and 1R for departure while overseas international departures and all arrivals use Runways 28L and 28R, taking advantage of the prevailing west-northwesterly wind coming through the San Bruno Gap. During periods of heavy winds or if operations at [[Oakland International Airport]] conflict with SFO departures (approximately 15% of the time), Runways 1L and 1R cannot be used, and so all departures and all arrivals use Runways 28L and 28R. These configurations are known collectively as the ''West Plan'', and accommodate arrivals at a rate of up to 60 aircraft per hour.<ref name=WeatherOps /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.flysfo.com/media/sfo/media/west-plan.jpg |title=West Plan |publisher=San Francisco International Airport |access-date=August 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525172850/http://media.flysfo.com/media/sfo/media/west-plan.jpg |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

When using 28L and 28R for landing, aircraft join the final approach at DUMBA waypoint next to the [[Dumbarton Bridge (California)|Dumbarton Bridge]]. In most circumstances, aircraft from the north or west start the approach from [[Daly City, California]], descend along the east or west shoreline of the [[San Francisco Peninsula]], and join the final after bypassing waypoints MENLO near [[Menlo Park, California|Menlo Park]] and DUMBA; aircraft from the south join the final through MENLO and DUMBA after flying over the [[Santa Cruz Mountains]]; aircraft from the east join the final approach after bypassing [[Milpitas, California]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Analysis of Menlo Waypoint|url=https://www.menlopark.org/DocumentCenter/View/11345/H4---Menlo-Waypoint-Study-Menlo-Park-city-council-meeting?bidId=|publisher=City of Menlo Park|year=2016|work=Skyposse Los Altos Team}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Staff Report Number: 16-190-CC Informational Item: Update on aircraft noise reduction efforts|url=https://www.menlopark.org/DocumentCenter/View/12274/Update-on-airpcraft-noise-reduction-efforts---All?bidId=|publisher=City of Menlo Park|date=2016-11-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Airport Director's Report|url=https://noise.flysfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Airport_Directors_Report_MAR2020.pdf|publisher=San Francisco International Airport|year=2020|work=Aircraft Noise Abatement Office}}</ref>

Under visual flight rules, aircraft may safely land side-by-side essentially simultaneously on 28L and 28R while maintaining visual separation.<ref name=WeatherOps /><ref name=AvGeekery>{{cite web |url=http://www.avgeekery.com/view-from-a-747-cockpit-of-a-parallel-landing-at-san-francisco-international/ |title=Formation landing with a Boeing 747–400 at SFO |website=AvGeekery [blog] |date=September 7, 2015 |access-date=August 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806061901/http://www.avgeekery.com/view-from-a-747-cockpit-of-a-parallel-landing-at-san-francisco-international/ |archive-date=August 6, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> When the visual approach is compromised, the ''West Plan'' is maintained with a modification to allow aircraft landing on 28L to use Instrument Landing System (ILS) while the aircraft landing on 28R takes an offset course, monitored via high scan rate ground radar, to maintain a lateral spacing greater than 750&nbsp;ft until the aircraft can maintain visual separation. Visual separation typically occurs once the aircraft has descended below the cloud deck at an altitude of 2,100 feet (640 m). This is known as the Precision Runway Monitor/Simultaneous Offset Instrument Approach and reduces the capacity to 36 arriving aircraft per hour. In poor visibility conditions, FAA instrument approach rules require aircraft to maintain lateral separation of 4,300 feet (1,300 m), meaning only one runway may be used, reducing the capacity of SFO to 25–30 arriving aircraft per hour.<ref name=WeatherOps /><ref name=AvGeekery />

During rainstorms (approximately 4% of the time), the prevailing winds shift to a [[cyclonic rotation|south-southeasterly direction]], and departing aircraft use Runways 10L and 10R, and arriving aircraft use Runways 19L and 19R. This configuration is known as the ''Southeast Plan''.<ref name=WeatherOps>{{cite web |url=http://media.flysfo.com/media/sfo/media/weather-operations-primer_0.pdf |title=Weather and Operations at SFO: A Primer for the Media |date=January 2010 |publisher=San Francisco International Airport |access-date=August 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525172857/http://media.flysfo.com/media/sfo/media/weather-operations-primer_0.pdf |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.flysfo.com/media/sfo/media/southeast-plan.jpg |title=Southeast Plan |publisher=San Francisco International Airport |access-date=August 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525172854/http://media.flysfo.com/media/sfo/media/southeast-plan.jpg |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On rare occasions (less than one day per year, on average), wind conditions dictate other runway configurations, including departures and landings on Runways 10L and 10R, departures and landings on Runways 1L and 1R, and departures on Runways 19L and 19R and landings on Runways 28L and 28R.

==Based aircraft and operations==
In the year ending February 29, 2024, SFO had 385,543 aircraft operations, an average of 1,056 per day. This consisted of 90% scheduled commercial, 7% [[air taxi]], 2% [[general aviation]] and <1% military. As of September 18th, 2025, there were 14 aircraft based at SFO, 5 [[helicopter|helicopters]], 4 jets, and 5 military aircraft.<ref name="FAA" />

==Aircraft noise abatement==
{{See also|Noise mitigation|Aircraft noise}}

SFO was one of the first airports to implement a Fly Quiet Program, which grades airlines on their performance on noise abatement procedures while flying in and out of SFO. The Jon C. Long Fly Quiet Program<ref>{{cite web |title=Fly Quiet Program – Jon C. Long Fly Quiet Awards |website=flySFO.com |publisher=San Francisco International Airport |url=http://www.flysfo.com/community-environment/noise-abatement/fly-quiet |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907070007/http://www.flysfo.com/community-environment/noise-abatement/fly-quiet |archive-date=September 7, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> was started by the Aircraft Noise Abatement Office to encourage airlines to operate as quietly as possible at SFO.

SFO was one of the first U.S. airports to conduct a residential sound abatement retrofitting program. Established by the FAA in the early 1980s, this program evaluated the cost-effectiveness of reducing interior sound levels for homes near the airport, within the 65 [[Community Noise Equivalent Level|CNEL]] noise contour. The program made use of a [[noise pollution|noise]] [[computer model]] to predict improvement in specific residential interiors for a variety of [[noise mitigation|noise control]] strategies. This pilot program was conducted for a neighborhood in [[South San Francisco, California|South San Francisco]] and success was achieved in all of the homes analyzed. The costs turned out to be modest, and the post-construction interior sound level tests confirmed the predictions for noise abatement. To date over $153&nbsp;million has been spent to insulate more than 15,000 homes in the neighboring cities of [[Daly City, California|Daly City]], [[Pacifica, California|Pacifica]], [[San Bruno, California|San Bruno]], and South San Francisco.<ref name="SFOnapstats">{{cite web |title=Residential Sound Insulation Program|url=http://www.flyquietsfo.com/rsip.asp|work=SFO – Aircraft Noise Abatement Office|publisher=BridgeNet International|date=September 1, 2009|access-date=September 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224221741/http://www.flyquietsfo.com/rsip.asp|archive-date=December 24, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Terminals==
[[File:SFO Terminal Map.svg|thumb|right|Terminal map of SFO]]

The airport has four [[Airport terminal|terminals]] (1, 2, 3, and International) and seven concourses with a total of 121 gates arranged alphabetically in a counterclockwise ring.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-14 |title=Static Maps {{!}} San Francisco International Airport |url=https://www.flysfo.com/maps/static-maps |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=www.flysfo.com |language=en}}</ref> Terminal 1 (B gates), Terminal 2 (C and D gates), and Terminal 3 (E and F gates) handle domestic and [[United States border preclearance|precleared]] flights.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-12 |title=Static Maps {{!}} San Francisco International Airport |url=https://www.flysfo.com/maps/static-maps |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=www.flysfo.com |language=en}}</ref> The International Terminal (A and G gates) handles international flights and some domestic flights.

Historically, the oldest terminal building still standing is Terminal 2, which was originally completed in 1954 as the Central Terminal with four concourses (Piers B, C, D, and E, lettered sequentially from north to south).<ref name=Payne2759>{{cite web |url=http://www.yesterdaysairlines.com/san-francisco---1927-1959.html |title=San Francisco International Airport: Gateway to the Golden Gate, Part 1: 1927–1959 |author=Payne, Andy T. |website=Yesterday's Airlines |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810152852/http://www.yesterdaysairlines.com/san-francisco---1927-1959.html |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Terminal 1 was added as the South Terminal in 1963 with Piers F/FF (Pier F had two satellite rotundas) and G, and Pier E was reassigned to the South Terminal upon its completion. International traffic was routed through Pier G, and a new Rotunda G was completed in 1974 to expand Pier G. Terminal 3 was added as the North Terminal in 1979 with Pier A. Also, once the North Terminal was completed in 1979, the piers were renamed counterclockwise, with letter designations corresponding to present-day Boarding Areas, starting with Pier A (originally Pier G, later Rotunda A), Pier B (present-day Boarding Area B, originally Pier F/FF), Pier C (present-day Boarding Area C, originally Pier E), and Pier F (present-day Boarding Area F, originally Pier A).<ref name=Payne5978>{{cite web |url=http://www.yesterdaysairlines.com/san-francisco---1959-1978.html |title=San Francisco International Airport: Gateway to the Golden Gate, Part 2: 1959–1978 |author=Payne, Andy T. |website=Yesterday's Airlines |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810160634/http://www.yesterdaysairlines.com/san-francisco---1959-1978.html |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> A new Pier E was added to the North Terminal in 1981 approximately where the old Pier B stood, and the Central Terminal was rebuilt with a single pier (D) to serve international flights in 1983, until a new International Terminal opened in 2000. Since then, the terminals were renamed with numbers in 2001, and the older terminals are in the process of renovation.

A rebuild of Terminal 2 (D gates, formerly the Central Terminal) was completed in 2011, followed by the completion of the rebuild of Terminal 3 East (E gates) in 2015. The rebuild of Terminal 1 (B gates) was completed in 2024. A rebuild of Terminal 3 West (F gates) commenced in 2024, with full completion expected by 2029.<ref name=Payne7815 /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-13 |title=Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Redevelopment {{!}} San Francisco International Airport |url=https://www.flysfo.com/about/construction/harvey-milk-terminal-1-redevelopment |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=www.flysfo.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name="flysfo.com">{{cite web |title=SFO Opens Final Phase of Harvey Milk Terminal 1 {{!}} San Francisco International Airport |url=https://www.flysfo.com/about/media/press-releases/sfo-opens-final-phase-harvey-milk-terminal-1 |website=FlySFO {{!}} San Francisco International Airport |access-date=June 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124252/https://www.flysfo.com/media/press-releases/masterpiece-progress-terminal-1-renovation-breaks-ground-sfo |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Terminal3ModernizationUnderway">{{cite web |date=2024-08-20 |website=flysfo.com |url=https://www.flysfo.com/about/media/press-releases/sfos-terminal-3-west-modernization-project-underway |title=SFO's Terminal 3 West Modernization Project is Underway |access-date=2024-10-06}}</ref>

===Airside connectors===
[[File:Airside Connector IT-T3 (36416581855).jpg|thumb|right|Airside connector between International Terminal and Terminal 3 in August 2017]]

There are [[airside]] connectors at SFO that enable passengers to move between adjacent terminal buildings while staying within the secure area. Since June 17, 2024 connectors are available between the A gates of International Terminal to Terminal 1, Terminal 1 to Terminal 2, Terminal 2 to Terminal 3, and Terminal 3 to the G gates of the International Terminal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airnewzealand.com/connecting-at-san-francisco |title=Connecting at San Francisco – Airport Maps and Connections – Check-In & Immigration |publisher=Air New Zealand |date=October 8, 2013 |access-date=December 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105110318/http://www.airnewzealand.com/connecting-at-san-francisco |archive-date=January 5, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=McGinnis |first=Chris |url=http://blog.sfgate.com/cmcginnis/2014/11/19/new-secret-passageway-at-sfo/ |title=New "secret passageway" at SFO – Chris McGinnis |date=November 19, 2014 |access-date=December 17, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909035859/http://blog.sfgate.com/cmcginnis/2014/11/19/new-secret-passageway-at-sfo/ |archive-date=September 9, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://travelskills.com/2014/11/12/new-options-sfo-delta-flyers/ |title=New options for Delta flyers at SFO – TravelSkills |date=November 12, 2014 |access-date=December 17, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316130308/http://travelskills.com/2014/11/12/new-options-sfo-delta-flyers/ |archive-date=March 16, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Next phase of Harvey Milk Terminal 1 opens at SFO |url=https://www.internationalairportreview.com/news/159684/next-phase-of-harvey-milk-terminal-1-opens-at-sfo/ |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=San Francisco Airport postpones multiple construction projects |url=https://www.internationalairportreview.com/news/144053/san-francisco-airport-postpones-construction-covid-19/ |website=International Airport Review}}</ref><ref name="flysfo.com"/> There is no connector directly between the International Terminal A and G gates.

===Terminal 1===

[[File:Harvey Milk Terminal 1-9226.jpg|thumb|right|Artwork in November 2019 memorializing gay rights activist and former San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk (1930–1978)]]
[[File:Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Community Day - July 2019 (7043).jpg|thumb|right|Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Community Day, July 2019]]
{{anchor|Harvey Milk Terminal 1}}
Formerly known as the "South Terminal", [[Harvey Milk]] Terminal 1<ref name="sfgate-26jun2019" /> is composed of Boarding Area B, which currently has 26 gates (gates B2-B27) and Boarding Area C, which has 11 gates (gates C1-C11). A third boarding area, Rotunda A, was demolished in early 2007, as its functions had been taken over by the new International Terminal.

The South Terminal, which cost {{US$|14000000|1963|round=-4}},<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/stream/bayregionbusines20sanf/bayregionbusines20sanf_djvu.txt |title=San Francisco Public Library – Bay Region Business |access-date=July 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924151830/http://www.archive.org/stream/bayregionbusines20sanf/bayregionbusines20sanf_djvu.txt |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> was initially dedicated on {{dts|1963-09-15}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library/collection/15317 |title=negative: San Francisco International Airport (SFO), dedication of South Terminal |date=September 15, 1963 |publisher=SFO Museum |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810011636/https://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library/collection/15317 |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The terminal was designed by [[Welton Becket|Welton Becket and Associates]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Projects Slated at SF Airport|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/475895862.html?dids=475895862:475895862&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+13%2C+1958&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Projects+Slated+at+S.F.+Airport&pqatl=google|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=July 13, 1958|access-date=June 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107063359/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/475895862.html?dids=475895862:475895862&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+13%2C+1958&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Projects+Slated+at+S.F.+Airport&pqatl=google|archive-date=November 7, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> When it opened, the South Terminal had three piers: Pier G (for international flights, approximately at the same location as the present-day Boarding Area (B/A) A in the International Terminal), Pier F/FF (used by Trans World Airlines (TWA) and Western Airlines, later renamed B/A B), and Pier E (used by American Airlines; originally part of Terminal 2, approximately at the present-day B/A C).<ref name=AirwaysMagT1>{{cite magazine |url=https://airwaysmag.com/airports/san-francisco-airport-terminal-reconstruction/ |title=San Francisco Airport Breaks Ground on Terminal Reconstruction |author=Hough, Bill |date=July 14, 2016 |magazine=Airways |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810050756/https://airwaysmag.com/airports/san-francisco-airport-terminal-reconstruction/ |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The three-level Rotunda A addition was completed in 1974 at the end of Pier G.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library/collection/17094 |title=Feb 72 / Rotonda A |date=February 1972 |publisher=SFO Museum |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810013546/https://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library/collection/17094 |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library/collection/16998 |title=Elevated Roadway Construction & Rotunda "A" Const. |author=Moxom, Marshall |date=July 2, 1971 |publisher=SFO Museum |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810012341/https://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library/collection/16998 |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library/collection/16461 |title=SFO Rotunda Plans / Sections 9 |author=San Francisco Airport Architects |date=January 29, 1968 |publisher=SFO Museum |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810051107/https://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library/collection/16461 |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> When the North Terminal was completed in 1979, Pier G was renamed Pier A, with the other piers renamed in a counterclockwise direction proceeding from the new Pier A.<ref name=Payne7815>{{cite web |url=http://www.yesterdaysairlines.com/san-francisco---1978-2015.html |title=San Francisco International Airport: Gateway to the Golden Gate, Part 3: 1978–2015 |author=Payne, Andy T. |website=Yesterday's Airlines |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810161216/http://www.yesterdaysairlines.com/san-francisco---1978-2015.html |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> International flights were moved to the rebuilt Central Terminal (Terminal 2) in 1983, and then to the new International Terminal in 2000.

The South Terminal underwent a {{US$|150000000|1988|round=-4}} renovation designed by Howard A. Friedman and Associates,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Friedman|first1=Howard A.|last2=Reitherman|first2=Robert|title=Successful Architecture: Selected Works and Thought of Howard A. Friedman|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nANQAAAAMAAJ&q=san+francisco+airport+%22south+terminal%22|access-date=June 14, 2012|publisher=H. Friedman Family|page=66|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627042419/http://books.google.com/books?id=nANQAAAAMAAJ&q=san+francisco+airport+%22south+terminal%22&dq=san+francisco+airport+%22south+terminal%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5GTaT_GJGaKe2QWT-Pi3Bg&ved=0CGwQ6AEwBzgU|archive-date=June 27, 2014|url-status=live|year=1990}}</ref> Marquis Associates and Wong & Brocchini<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.auerbachconsultants.com/pdf/l.institutional.pdf |title=Tabular LT Institutional Facilities |access-date=July 6, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129114417/http://www.auerbachconsultants.com/pdf/l.institutional.pdf |archive-date=November 29, 2014 }}</ref> that was completed in 1988. Terminal 1 then underwent a {{US$|2400000000|2016|round=-4}} project to modernize the concourse and add gates;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flysfo.com/about-sfo/airport-development/t1 |title=Terminal 1 Redevelopment |website=flySFO.com |publisher=San Francisco International Airport |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904102100/http://www.flysfo.com/about-sfo/airport-development/t1 |archive-date=September 4, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> the project broke ground on June 29, 2016. The phase of the project to expand Boarding Area B includes the demolition of the old TWA hangar, the demolition of the two rotundas, and the relocation of two taxiways.<ref name=AirwaysMagT1 /> The multi-phase project yielded a total of 27 gates when completed in 2024 including a secure Federal Inspection Services (FIS) connector to the existing customs facilities in the International Terminal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cmaanorcal.org/pdfs/112912_sfo_presentation.pdf |title=CMAA Terminal 1 Redevelopment Program |date=November 29, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044042/http://www.cmaanorcal.org/pdfs/112912_sfo_presentation.pdf |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> This effectively added six new gates that can handle international arrivals. A renovation of Boarding Area C was expected to begin after the completion of work on Boarding Area B, but there were no current plans as of September 2024.<ref name=AirwaysMagT1 /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-17 |title=SFO Opens Final Phase of Harvey Milk Terminal 1 {{!}} San Francisco International Airport |url=https://www.flysfo.com/about/media/press-releases/sfo-opens-final-phase-harvey-milk-terminal-1 |access-date=2024-09-16 |website=www.flysfo.com |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2018, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and mayor [[Mark Farrell (politician)|Mark Farrell]] approved and signed legislation renaming Terminal 1 after deceased gay rights activist and former [[Members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors|member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors]] [[Harvey Milk]], and planned to install artwork memorializing him. This followed a previous attempt to rename the entire airport after him, which was turned down.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/sfo-terminal-renamed-honor-harvey-milk/ | title=SFO Terminal To Be Renamed in Honor of Harvey Milk | work=[[San Francisco Examiner]] | last=Sabatini | first=Joshua | date=March 21, 2018 | access-date=March 22, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321235631/http://www.sfexaminer.com/sfo-terminal-renamed-honor-harvey-milk/ | archive-date=March 21, 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="sfgate-23apr2018">{{cite news |last1=McGinnis |first1=Chris |title=It's official: SFO terminal named for Harvey Milk |url=https://www.sfgate.com/chris-mcginnis/article/harvey-milk-airport-terminal-SFO-12838460.php |access-date=July 22, 2019 |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=April 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722185932/https://www.sfgate.com/chris-mcginnis/article/harvey-milk-airport-terminal-SFO-12838460.php |archive-date=July 22, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the art and photo installation, the renamed terminal was opened to the media and public for preview tours in advance of its official opening on July 23, 2019.<ref name="sfgate-26jun2019">{{cite news |last1=McGinnis |first1=Chris |title=First look inside SFO's new $2.4 billion terminal |url=https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/Harvey-Milk-Terminal-1-first-look-pictures-sf-14047873.php |access-date=July 22, 2019 |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |location=[[San Francisco]]|publisher=[[Hearst Communications]]|date=June 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721234102/https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/Harvey-Milk-Terminal-1-first-look-pictures-sf-14047873.php |archive-date=July 21, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Harvey Milk Terminal 1 is the world's first airport terminal named after a leader of the [[LGBTQ]] community.<ref name="sfgate-26jun2019" />

The first nine gates at the newly reconstructed Boarding Area B opened on July 23, 2019, with [[Southwest Airlines]] and [[JetBlue]] becoming the first tenants.<ref name="McGinnis 2019">{{Cite news|last=McGinnis|first=Chris|date=July 23, 2019|title=Harvey Milk Terminal 1 officially opens at SFO|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle|SFGate]]|url=https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/Harvey-Milk-Terminal-1-opens-14115049.php}}</ref> In late-April 2020, the terminal's new lobby opened, with new ticket counters for Southwest and JetBlue, and a new permanent exhibit honoring Milk.<ref>{{cite web|title=SFO Resumes Opening for Next Phase of Harvey Milk Terminal 1|url=https://www.sfoconnect.com/about/news/sfo-resumes-opening-next-phase-harvey-milk-terminal-1|access-date=June 9, 2020|website=SFO Connect}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bajko|first=Matthew S.|date=April 27, 2020|title=After weekslong delay, new Harvey Milk Terminal 1 section opens|url=https://www.ebar.com/news/latest_news//291442|access-date=June 9, 2020|website=The Bay Area Reporter}}</ref> On May 12, 2020, in conjunction with the launch of nine new gates at Boarding Area B (B19-B27), [[American Airlines]] moved into the new facility, with new ticket counters, baggage systems, and a new Admirals Club lounge.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite news|date=May 5, 2020|title=American Airlines Moves into Harvey Milk Terminal 1 on May 12th|work=San Francisco International Airport|url=https://www.flysfo.com/media/press-releases/american-airlines-moves-harvey-milk-terminal-1-may-12th}}</ref><ref name="Leff">{{cite web|last=Leff|first=Gary|date=May 14, 2020|title=In The Middle Of A Pandemic, American Airlines Changes Terminals In San Francisco|url=https://viewfromthewing.com/in-the-middle-of-a-pandemic-american-airlines-changes-terminals-in-san-francisco/|access-date=June 9, 2020|website=View From the Wing}}</ref> Seven gates (B2-B5, B10-B11, B15-B16) in the new terminal opened on May 25, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title=Next Phase of Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Opens at SFO {{!}} San Francisco International Airport|url=https://www.flysfo.com/media/press-releases/next-phase-harvey-milk-terminal-1-opens-sfo|access-date=June 3, 2021|website=FlySFO {{!}} San Francisco International Airport|date=May 25, 2021 }}</ref>

In 2022, [[Hawaiian Airlines]] and [[WestJet]] moved a few of their departures into the B gates, but check-in counters and baggage claim remain in International Terminal A. In June 2024, [[Alaska Airlines]] moved all of its operations from Terminal 2 into Harvey Milk Terminal 1, in order to be closer to their [[Oneworld]] partner [[American Airlines]] and opened an Alaska Lounge in the terminal in July 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.alaskaair.com/guest-experience/alaska-invests-in-airports-guest-experience/|title=We're investing billions in major improvements at our key airports to ensure you'll have a great trip|date=March 24, 2022 }}</ref> Two gates (B3 and C1) also opened that month.<ref name=":0" /> In December 2024, [[Hawaiian Airlines]] moved its check-in counters and baggage claim from the International Terminal A to the Harvey Milk Terminal 1 as part of its merger with [[Alaska Airlines]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/hi/hawaii/news/2024/12/04/new-shared-chapter-for-hawaiian-airlines-and-alaska-airlines-at-sfo|title=New chapter for Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines at SFO|publisher=Spectrum Local News|date=December 4, 2024|accessdate=December 11, 2024}}</ref>

JetBlue operates two gates preferentially (B3 and B6), while American operates six of the nine new gates preferentially (B22-B27).<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="Leff"/> Alaska Airlines operates ten gates in the terminal preferentially (B7-8, B10-11, B15-16, and B18-21). Three gates (B2, B4, and B5) are not assigned preferentially to any airline.

===Terminal 2===

Formerly known as the "Central Terminal", Terminal 2 is composed of Boarding Area D, which has 14 gates (D1-D12 and D14-D16). Gate D13 does not exist as the number has been reserved for future development.<ref name="Gate Numbering">{{cite web|title=New Gate Numbering System at SFO {{!}} San Francisco International Airport|url=https://www.flysfo.com/gate-renumbering|access-date=June 24, 2020|website=FlySFO {{!}} San Francisco International Airport}}</ref> Between June 23, 2020 and October 8, 2024, Boarding Area C was also considered part of Terminal 2.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-02 |title=Delta check-in counters and baggage claim move to Harvey Milk Terminal 1 on October 8, 2024 {{!}} San Francisco International Airport |url=https://www.flysfo.com/flight-info/alerts-advisories/delta-check-counters-and-baggage-claim-move-harvey-milk-terminal-1 |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=www.flysfo.com |language=en}}</ref>

Terminal 2 opened in 1954 as the main airport terminal. After a drastic rebuilding designed by [[Gensler]], it replaced Rotunda A as SFO's international terminal in 1983<ref name="Gensler">{{cite news |first=Allison |last=McCarthy |url=http://www.7x7.com/travel-active/first-look-sfos-new-terminal-2 |title=A First Look at SFO's New Terminal 2 |newspaper=7X7 Bay Area |publisher=7x7.com |date=April 4, 2011 |access-date=July 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524123050/http://www.7x7.com/travel-active/first-look-sfos-new-terminal-2 |archive-date=May 24, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="SFO Competition plan">{{cite report |title=San Francisco International Airport Competition Plan |publisher=San Francisco International Airport |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518182159/http://www.flysfo.com/web/export/sites/default/download/about/competition/pdf/Competition_Plan.pdf |archive-date=May 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |url=http://www.flysfo.com/web/export/sites/default/download/about/competition/pdf/Competition_Plan.pdf |date=August 8, 2000 |access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref> until it was closed for renovation after the current international terminal opened in 2000. The initial plan was to convert Terminal 2 for domestic travel and reopen it by fall 2001, but the loss of passenger traffic after [[September 11 attacks|the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001]] put those plans on hold. The upper levels continued to be used as office spaces and for the airport's medical clinic, and the control tower remained in use.<ref name="SFC-080513">{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/SFO-s-old-international-terminal-to-fly-again-3214983.php |title=SFO's old international terminal to fly again |author=Raine, George |date=May 13, 2008 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809212423/http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/SFO-s-old-international-terminal-to-fly-again-3214983.php |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On May 12, 2008, a {{US$|383000000|2008|round=-4}} renovation project was announced that included a new control tower, the use of green materials, a seismic retrofit, and an expansion from ten to fourteen gates.<ref name=SFC-080513 /><ref name="Ghost terminal">{{cite news|title=SFO Brings Ghost Terminal Back From the Dead|first=Michael|last=Manekin|url=http://www.airportbusiness.com/web/online/Top-News-Headlines/SFO-brings-ghost-terminal-back-from-the-dead/1$20075|newspaper=[[San Mateo County Times]]|publisher=Bay Area News Group|date=July 8, 2008|access-date=August 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707100623/http://www.airportbusiness.com/web/online/Top-News-Headlines/SFO-brings-ghost-terminal-back-from-the-dead/1$20075|archive-date=July 7, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The terminal reopened for commercial travel on April 14, 2011, with [[Virgin America]] (later [[Alaska Airlines]]) and [[American Airlines]] sharing the new 14-gate [[common-use facility]].<ref name="abclocal.go.com">{{cite news |url=http://abc7news.com/archive/7952055/ |title=SFO's renovated Terminal 2 is set to open April 14 and will house Virgin America and American Airlines |work=ABC7 News KGO-TV |location=San Francisco, California |date=February 10, 2011 |access-date=July 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103092635/http://abc7news.com/archive/7952055/ |archive-date=January 3, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Approximately a week earlier, on {{dts|2011-04-06}}, Virgin America's ceremonial flight VX2001 was the first to arrive at the renovated Terminal 2, an [[Airbus A320]] bearing founder [[Richard Branson]] with other invited celebrity guests, such as [[Buzz Aldrin]], [[Rachel Hunter]], and [[Gavin Newsom]]. VX2001 had rendezvoused with [[Scaled Composites White Knight Two|White Knight Two]]/[[SpaceShipTwo]] over [[Point Reyes]] before making a side-by-side landing.<ref name=SFC-110406>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SFO-Terminal-2-ready-for-takeoff-2375852.php |title=SFO Terminal 2 ready for takeoff |author=Coté, John |date=April 6, 2011 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809211103/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SFO-Terminal-2-ready-for-takeoff-2375852.php |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The newly renovated terminal also designed by [[Gensler]] features permanent art installations from [[Janet Echelman]], Kendall Buster, [[Norie Sato]], Charles Sowers, and [[Walter Kitundu]].<ref name="Gensler"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfartscommission.org/media/press-releases/2011/02/10/public-art-five-new-public-artworks-to-debut-at-san-francisco-international-airports-new-terminal-2/ |title=Five New Public Artworks to Debut at San Francisco International Airport's New Terminal 2 |publisher=Sfartscommission.org |access-date=July 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719103258/http://www.sfartscommission.org/media/press-releases/2011/02/10/public-art-five-new-public-artworks-to-debut-at-san-francisco-international-airports-new-terminal-2/ |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.flysfo.com/media/press-releases/sfos-terminal-2-set-re-open-april |title=SFO's Terminal 2 Set to Re-Open in April |date=February 10, 2011 |publisher=San Francisco International Airport |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810011200/https://www.flysfo.com/media/press-releases/sfos-terminal-2-set-re-open-april |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Transition zones (the immediate post-security line area for "passenger recomposure") and exit areas (where disembarking passengers may be greeted) were designed with generous space.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SFO-releases-terminal-renovation-plans-3194550.php |title=SFO releases terminal renovation plans |author=Allday, Erin |date=September 19, 2008 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809213043/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SFO-releases-terminal-renovation-plans-3194550.php |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/SFO-terminal-plan-may-make-security-check-less-2476178.php |title=SFO terminal plan may make security check less grim |author=King, John |date=February 8, 2011 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810011314/http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/SFO-terminal-plan-may-make-security-check-less-2476178.php |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Terminal 2 set accolades by being the first U.S. airport to achieve [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED Gold status]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/error/500|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912194712/http://www.janes.com/products/janes/defence-security-report.aspx?ID=1065929229&pu=1&rd=janes_com|url-status=dead|title=Internal Server Error|archive-date=September 12, 2012|website=Janes.com}}</ref> Paolo Lucchesi, a local food critic, noted the [[sustainable food systems|sustainable food]] and dining program featuring local vendors and sources.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/food/insidescoop/article/SFO-Terminal-2-to-include-sustainable-food-2387766.php |title=SFO Terminal 2 to include sustainable food |author=Lucchesi, Paolo |date=March 24, 2011 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809211150/http://www.sfgate.com/food/insidescoop/article/SFO-Terminal-2-to-include-sustainable-food-2387766.php |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/restaurants/article/SFO-Terminal-2-dining-a-local-gourmet-bounty-2376411.php |title=SFO Terminal 2 dining a local, gourmet bounty |author=Lucchesi, Paolo |date=April 6, 2011 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809212108/http://www.sfgate.com/restaurants/article/SFO-Terminal-2-dining-a-local-gourmet-bounty-2376411.php |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following the construction of a new control tower in 2016, the tower and the offices above the terminal were demolished and new office space was constructed in their place. On February 14, 2020, a new public, outdoor observation deck, called SkyTerrace, was opened in the new office space.<ref>{{cite web|title=SFO to Open New Public Outdoor Observation Deck on February 14th {{!}} San Francisco International Airport|url=https://www.flysfo.com/media/press-releases/sfo-open-new-public-outdoor-observation-deck-february-14th|access-date=June 24, 2020|website=FlySFO {{!}} San Francisco International Airport}}</ref>

Until May 12, 2020, American's check-in counters were consolidated to T2, but its operations were split between Boarding Area D and Boarding Area C (linked via an [[#Airside connectors|airside connector]]). Following American's move to T1, the existing Admirals Club location was converted to an Alaska lounge, which has since closed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-31 |title=New San Francisco Lounge celebrates local flavor and flair |url=https://news.alaskaair.com/guest-experience/alaska-lounge-sfo/ |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=Alaska Airlines News |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Air Canada]] and [[Breeze Airways]] have moved into Terminal 2 during 2022-Q1. As a result, all check-ins and departures from [[Air Canada]] are no longer operating at the International Terminal. Since 2023, United Airlines has operated some flights out of Boarding Area D due to the Terminal 3 renovation project. In March 2025, Southwest Airlines moved all operations to Terminal 2.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2025-03-04|title=Why SFO asked Southwest Airlines to move terminals 
|url=https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/southwest-airlines-changes-terminals-sfo-20202262.php |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=SFGate |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Terminal 3===
[[File:United Airlines - N37468 - Boeing 737-900 - San Francisco International Airport-0375.jpg|thumb|right|[[United Airlines]] planes sitting at their gates at Terminal 3 in January 2014]]
[[File:San Francisco International Airport - April 2018 (0490).jpg|alt=|thumb|Terminal 3 interior (pictured in April 2018)]]

Formerly known as the "North Terminal", Terminal 3 is composed of Boarding Area E with 13 gates (gates E1-E13) and Boarding Area F with 18 gates (gates F5-F22). Terminal 3 is used for [[United Airlines]]' domestic flights. Mainline United and [[United Express]] flights use both boarding areas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Find JetBlue Terminal at SFO |url=https://www.jetblueflyairs.com/blog/jetblue-airways-sfo-airport-terminal/ }}</ref>

This $82.44 million terminal was originally designed by San Francisco Airport Architects (a joint venture of [[John Carl Warnecke|John Carl Warnecke and Associates]], Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture, and minority architects).<ref>{{cite journal |year=1978|title=Airport Undergoes Marathon Expansion|journal=Engineering News-Record|volume=200|issue=1|page=18|publisher=McGraw-Hill}}</ref> The groundbreaking ceremony for the North Terminal was held on April 22, 1971,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flysfo.com/content/north-terminal-construction-begins-san-francisco-international-airport |title=North Terminal construction begins at San Francisco International Airport |date=April 22, 1971 |publisher=SFO Museum |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810050913/https://www.flysfo.com/content/north-terminal-construction-begins-san-francisco-international-airport |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Boarding Area F opened in 1979 and Boarding Area E opened in 1981.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flysfo.com/content/north-terminal-completed-san-francisco-international-airport |title=North Terminal completed at San Francisco International Airport |date=January 1, 1981 |publisher=SFO Museum |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810011748/https://www.flysfo.com/content/north-terminal-completed-san-francisco-international-airport |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> All terminals (except the International Terminal) were redesignated by number starting October 1, 2001.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://media.flysfo.com/SF-01-50.pdf |title=San Francisco International Airport's domestic terminals will be referred to by number beginning October 1 |date=September 28, 2001 |publisher=San Francisco Airport Commission |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829150057/https://media.flysfo.com/SF-01-50.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A solar roof was installed in 2007 with sufficient generating capacity to power all Terminal 3 lights during the day.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/SFO-harnesses-solar-power-for-Terminal-3-2502056.php |title=SFO harnesses solar power for Terminal 3 |author=Raine, George |date=September 20, 2007 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810013456/http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/SFO-harnesses-solar-power-for-Terminal-3-2502056.php |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> American Airlines<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airlinesanddestinations.com/airlines/american-to-relocate-operations-at-sfo-to-new-terminal-2/|title=American to Relocate Operations at SFO to New Terminal 2|work=Airlines and Destinations|date=September 8, 2010|access-date=December 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222093619/http://www.airlinesanddestinations.com/airlines/american-to-relocate-operations-at-sfo-to-new-terminal-2/|archive-date=December 22, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> and Air Canada<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flysfo.com/sites/default/download/about/commission/agenda/pdf/minutes/m030111.pdf |title=Minutes |date=March 1, 2011 |publisher=San Francisco Airport Commission |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222114602/http://www.flysfo.com/sites/default/download/about/commission/agenda/pdf/minutes/m030111.pdf |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> occupied Boarding Area E until it closed for refurbishment in 2011 under the airport's FY 2010/11 – FY 2014/15 Capital Plan. Designed by Gensler, the renovation included architectural enhancements, structural renovations, replacement of HVAC systems, roof repair, and new carpeting.<ref>{{cite report |title=FY14/15 Five-Year Capital Plan|url=http://www.flysfo.com/assets/downloads/reports/CapPlanFY1011.pdf|publisher=San Francisco International Airport|access-date=January 31, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014001300/http://www.flysfo.com/assets/downloads/reports/CapPlanFY1011.pdf|archive-date=October 14, 2012}}</ref> Initial modest renovation plans were replaced by a more ambitious project after the popularity of the remodeling of Terminal 2.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SFO-terminal-revamp-ready-for-takeoff-5173681.php |title=SFO terminal revamp ready for takeoff |author=Cabanatuan, Michael |date=January 24, 2014 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810013208/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SFO-terminal-revamp-ready-for-takeoff-5173681.php |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> After the completion of the {{US$|138000000|2014|round=-4}} project, Boarding Area E reopened on January 28, 2014, followed by Terminal 3 East on November 18.<ref>{{cite press release|first=Doug|last=Yakel|title=Join the E-Volution – SFO Re-Opens Boarding Area E|url=http://www.flysfo.com/media/press-releases/join-e-volution-sfo-re-opens-boarding-area-e|publisher=San Francisco International Airport|date=January 24, 2014|access-date=January 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202182751/http://www.flysfo.com/media/press-releases/join-e-volution-sfo-re-opens-boarding-area-e|archive-date=February 2, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/style/article/United-SFO-terminal-upgrades-to-1st-class-glitz-5183104.php |title=United SFO terminal upgrades to 1st class glitz |author=Bigelow, Catherine |date=January 28, 2014 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810013210/http://www.sfgate.com/style/article/United-SFO-terminal-upgrades-to-1st-class-glitz-5183104.php |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Terminal 3 East Concourse {{!}} San Francisco International Airport|url=https://www.flysfo.com/about-sfo/airport-development/t3-east|access-date=August 17, 2020|website=FlySFO {{!}} San Francisco International Airport}}</ref> The project moved one gate from Boarding Area F to Boarding Area E to provide a total of ten aircraft parking positions at T3E.<ref>{{cite web|title=San Francisco International Airport Boarding Area E|url=http://www.sfgov3.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=1720|publisher=[[San Francisco|City and County of San Francisco]]|date=March 19, 2012|access-date=January 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140206061523/http://www.sfgov3.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=1720|archive-date=February 6, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Following a 2019 renumbering of all gates at SFO, three additional gates moved from Boarding Area F to Boarding Area E, with the latter now containing 13 gates.<ref name="Gate Numbering" />

In 2020, airport officials postponed a planned renovation for Terminal 3 West.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-10 |title=SFO Postpones $1 Billion Terminal 3 West Project |publisher=San Francisco International Airport |url=https://www.flysfo.com/media/press-releases/sfo-postpones-1-billion-terminal-3-west-project |access-date=2023-12-08}}</ref> After a four year delay, the $2.6 billion project broke ground in 2024.<ref name="Chronicle-Moving"/><ref name="Terminal3ModernizationUnderway"/> It will seismically retrofit part of Terminal 3, add international arrivals capabilities to up to four gates, renovate the check-in lobby, and expand the security checkpoint.<ref name="Chronicle-Moving"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-01 |title=Terminal 3 Construction |publisher=San Francisco International Airport |url=https://www.flysfo.com/about/construction/terminal-3-construction |access-date=September 16, 2024}}</ref> The project also includes a replacement of the "bouncy" moving walkway in Terminal 3 that was installed in the 1970s using one continuous section of rubber.<ref name="Chronicle-Moving"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Carlton |first=Jim |date=November 4, 2024 |title=San Francisco Travelers Lose Their Best Friend: a 400-Foot Rubber Band |url=https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/san-francisco-airport-sfo-travel-flight-walkway-bouncy-5bdaa94b |work=[[Wall Street Journal]] |url-access=subscription |accessdate=November 5, 2024}}</ref>

There are two [[United Club]]s in Terminal 3—one near the rotunda for Boarding Area F and another at the beginning of Boarding Area E. Terminal 3 also houses the [[American Express]] Centurion Lounge, located across from Gate F2.{{anchor|International Terminal A}}{{anchor|International Terminal G}}
===International Terminal===
[[File:International Terminal of San Francisco International Airport2.jpg|thumb|The International Terminal (pictured in August 2007)]]
[[File:SFO international int.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Interior of the International Terminal check-in area in September 2007]]
The International Terminal is composed of Boarding Area A with 15 gates (A1-A15) and Boarding Area G with 14 gates (G1-G14). Designed by [[Craig W. Hartman]] of [[Skidmore, Owings and Merrill]], the terminal opened in December 2000 to replace the International Departures section of Terminal 2. It is the largest international terminal in North America, and the largest building in the world built on [[Base isolation|base isolators]] to protect against [[earthquake]]s.<ref name="intlterminalfactsheet">{{cite web|title=Fact Sheet – International Terminal |url=http://www.flysfo.com/web/export/sites/default/download/about/news/pressres/fact-sheet/pdf/International_Terminal_Fact_Sheet.pdf |website=flySFO.com |publisher=San Francisco International Airport |date=January 30, 2007 |access-date=August 3, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521030004/http://www.flysfo.com/web/export/sites/default/download/about/news/pressres/fact-sheet/pdf/International_Terminal_Fact_Sheet.pdf |archive-date=May 21, 2009 }}</ref> Food service focuses on quick service versions of leading San Francisco Bay Area restaurants, following other SFO terminals. Planners attempted to make the airport a destination in and of itself, not just for travelers passing through.<ref name="SFOGastromony">{{cite news|title=Terminal Gastronomy – New Plan Brings Icons of the Bay Area's Food-Loving Culture to the S.F. Airport|first=David|last=Armstrong|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/10/07/BUG9Q26KPD1.DTL&type=business|newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|pages=B–1|publisher=Hearst Communications|date=October 7, 2003|access-date=August 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506090438/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2003%2F10%2F07%2FBUG9Q26KPD1.DTL&type=business|archive-date=May 6, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> The international terminal is a common-use facility, with all gates and all ticketing areas shared among international airlines and several domestic carriers. Common-use terminal equipment (CUTE) is used at check-in counters and gates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flysfo.com/sites/default/download/about/commission/agenda/pdf/minutes/M110105.pdf |title=San Francisco Airport Commission Minutes |date=November 1, 2005 |access-date=December 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224093442/http://www.flysfo.com/sites/default/download/about/commission/agenda/pdf/minutes/M110105.pdf |archive-date=December 24, 2015}}
</ref> All international arrivals and departures are handled here (except flights from cities with [[United States border preclearance|customs preclearance]]). The International Terminal houses the airport's [[San Francisco International Airport (SFO) (BART station)|BART station]], adjacent to the garage leading to Boarding Area G. The SFO Medical Clinic is located next to the security screening area of Boarding Area A. All gates in this terminal have at least two [[Jetway|jetway bridges]], except gates A3 and A12, which have one. Gates A1 and A2 can accommodate two aircraft. Six of the gates are designed for the [[Airbus A380]], making SFO one of the first airports in the world with such gates when it was built in 2000.<ref>{{cite news|title=Super-Size Skies – SFO Says It's Ready for a 555-Person Plane Arriving in 2006|first=David|last=Armstrong|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/07/15/BUG7H7KVDS1.DTL&hw=A380&sn=003&sc=726|newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|pages=C–1|publisher=Hearst Communications|date=July 15, 2004|access-date=August 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604041728/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2004%2F07%2F15%2FBUG7H7KVDS1.DTL&hw=A380&sn=003&sc=726|archive-date=June 4, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Gate A11 has three [[Jet bridge|jetways]] for boarding.<ref name="A380 at SFO">{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Giant-A380-jetliner-proves-SFO-planners-were-right-2371963.php#photo-1899699|title=A380 at SFO|date=May 9, 2011|access-date=March 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328211516/http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Giant-A380-jetliner-proves-SFO-planners-were-right-2371963.php#photo-1899699|archive-date=March 28, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Four other gates have two [[Jet bridge|jetways]] fitted for A380 service.<ref name="A380 at SFO"/>

The International Terminal completed a continuous ring of terminals, by filling in the last remaining gap to the west of then-existing terminals. Its geometry required that the terminal structure be built above the main access road, at enormous expense, including building dedicated ramps for connectivity to Highway 101. The design and construction of the international terminal was by [[Skidmore, Owings & Merrill]], Del Campo & Maru Architects, Michael Willis Associates, and built by [[Tutor Perini]] (main terminal building), [[Hellmuth, Obata, and Kassabaum]] in association with Robin Chiang & Company, Robert B. Wong Architects, and built by [[Tutor Perini]] (Boarding Area G), and Gerson/Overstreet Architects and built by [[Hensel Phelps Construction]] (Boarding Area A).<ref name="intlterminalfactsheet"/> The contracts were awarded after an [[architectural design competition]].

[[File:18-JUL-2022 - UA837 SFO-NRT (B787-9 - N15969) (01).jpg|thumb|right|[[United Airlines]] planes at the International Terminal in July 2022]]
Most international flights operated by [[Star Alliance]] carriers, including all United international flights and select United domestic flights, are assigned to Boarding Area G's 14 gates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www9.passur.com/sfo_docs/sfopdf4.pdf |title=This PDF contains several maps of the SFO Airport |access-date=July 27, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015132731/http://www9.passur.com/sfo_docs/sfopdf4.pdf |archive-date=October 15, 2015 }}</ref> Most international flights operated by [[SkyTeam]], [[Oneworld]], and non-aligned international carriers board and deplane at Boarding Area A's 15 gates. However, Star Alliance carriers [[Air India]], [[Avianca El Salvador]], [[Copa Airlines]], [[EVA Air]], [[TAP Air Portugal]], and [[Turkish Airlines]] operate out of Boarding Area A. Boarding Area A is also used by domestic carriers [[Frontier Airlines]] and [[Sun Country Airlines]]. When all gates in an airline's designated international boarding area are full, the passengers will board or deplane from the opposite international boarding area or, in the case of Boarding Area A, the adjacent B gates. [[Aer Lingus]], [[Flair Airlines]], and [[WestJet]] operate from airports with [[United States border preclearance]], allowing arriving passengers to skip the wait at customs and immigration when they arrive at SFO, and exit the airport from the departure level.

The two main designations for the International Terminal are "I", and "INTL" (abbreviations for "International"). Oftentimes travel itineraries will say "T-I", and this has led to instances where passengers misinterpret the "I" as Terminal 1, especially since both Boarding Area A and Boarding Area G are used for a limited number of domestic flights.{{who|date=February 2017}}

In 2024, the airport announced that the International Terminal would be renamed after the late senator and former mayor [[Dianne Feinstein]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nazzaro |first=Miranda |date=2024-01-16 |title=San Francisco Airport to name international terminal in honor of late Sen. Dianne Feinstein |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4412545-san-francisco-airport-name-international-terminal-honor-late-senator-feinstein/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |work=The Hill |language=en-US}}</ref> The departures main hall is already named after the late mayor [[Ed Lee]].

==SFO Museum==
[[File:SFO Museum entrance.jpg|thumb|SFO Museum entrance in December 2023]]
SFO Museum was created in 1980 as a collaboration between the San Francisco Airport Commission and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and was the first museum in an international airport.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flysfo.com/museum/about/mission-statement |title=Mission and History |publisher=San Francisco International Airport |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809211557/https://www.flysfo.com/museum/about/mission-statement |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was accredited by the [[American Alliance of Museums]] in 1999, and contains both permanent artwork and temporary exhibitions in more than 20 galleries. The Aviation Museum and Library (officially, the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum) is located in the International Terminal, featuring a model of a DC-3. Other prominent installations include works by:<ref name=SFC-120119>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/outdoors/urbanoutings/article/S-F-International-Airport-Also-an-art-museum-2614406.php |title=S.F. International Airport: Also an art museum |author=Todd, Gail |date=January 19, 2012 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809211616/http://www.sfgate.com/outdoors/urbanoutings/article/S-F-International-Airport-Also-an-art-museum-2614406.php |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flysfo.com/museum/public-art/public-art-map |title=Public Art Map |publisher=SFO Museum |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809212656/https://www.flysfo.com/museum/public-art/public-art-map |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<!--Please try to keep this list in alphabetical order, by last name.-->
{{div col |colwidth=25em |gap=2em}}
* [[Robert Bechtle]], ''San Francisco Nova'' (T3, boarding area E)
* Kendall Buster, ''Topograph'' (T2, departure lounge)
* [[Janet Echelman]], ''Every Beating Second'' (T2, recomposure area)
* [[Joyce Kozloff]], ''Bay Area Victorian'', ''Bay Area Deco'', ''Bay Area Funk''; tile wall (IT–T1 connector)
* Seiji Kunishima, ''Stacking Stones'' (T2)
* [[Yayoi Kusama]], ''High Heels for Going to Heaven'' (T1, b/a B)
* [[Ursula von Rydingsvard]], ''Ocean Voices II'' (T3, E Plaza)
* [[Norie Sato]], ''Air Over Under'' (T2, exterior)
* [[Larry Sultan]] and [[Mike Mandel]], ''Waiting'' (IT, b/a A)
* [[Rufino Tamayo]], ''Conquest of Space'' (IT, exterior)
* [[Wayne Thiebaud]], ''18th Street Downgrade'' (T3, b/a E)
* [[James Torlakson]], ''Behind Ted McMann's Garage'' (T3, b/a E)
* Bob Zoell, ''BFILRYD'' (T3–IT connector)
{{div col end}}

Frequent travelers and airline staff have reportedly told SFO Museum officials they make it a point to arrive to the airport early in order to view the galleries.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hyperallergic.com/93669/curating-at-the-airport-the-sfo-museum/ |title=Curating at the Airport: The SFO Museum |author=Xiao, An |date=November 21, 2013 |website=Hyperallergic |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809161655/https://hyperallergic.com/93669/curating-at-the-airport-the-sfo-museum/ |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Airlines and destinations==
===Passenger===
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{{Airport-dest-list | 3rdcoltitle = Refs | 3rdcolunsortable=yes
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| [[Aer Lingus]] | [[Dublin Airport|Dublin]] | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aerlingus.com/html/flights-time-table.html|title=Timetables|publisher=Aer Lingus|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219100623/https://www.aerlingus.com/html/flights-time-table.html|archive-date=February 19, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Aeroméxico]] | [[Guadalajara International Airport|Guadalajara]], [[Mexico City International Airport|Mexico City]] | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://booking.aeromexico.com/SSW2010/D5DE/flightSchedulePage.html|title=Timetables|publisher=Aeroméxico|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119011305/https://booking.aeromexico.com/SSW2010/D5DE/flightSchedulePage.html|archive-date=November 19, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Air Canada]] | [[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport|Montréal–Trudeau]],<ref>{{OAGWorldJuly2025Ref|title=Montreal, QC, Canada YMQ|pages=768-771}}</ref> [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto–Pearson]],<ref>{{OAGWorldJuly2025Ref|title=Toronto, ON, Canada YTO|pages=1156-1162}}</ref> [[Vancouver International Airport|Vancouver]]<ref>{{OAGWorldJuly2025Ref|title=Vancouver, BC, Canada YVR|pages=1184-1188}}</ref> | <ref name="Air Canada Flight Schedules">{{cite web|url=https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/routes-and-partners/flight-schedules.html|title=Flight Schedules|publisher=Air Canada|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323072516/https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/routes-and-partners/flight-schedules.html|archive-date=March 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Air Canada Express]] |[[Vancouver International Airport|Vancouver]]<ref>{{OAGWorldJuly2025Ref|title=Vancouver, BC, Canada YVR|pages=1184-1188}}</ref> <br />'''Seasonal:''' [[Edmonton International Airport|Edmonton]]{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} | <ref name="Air Canada Flight Schedules"/>
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| [[Air China]] | [[Beijing Capital International Airport|Beijing–Capital]] | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230928-canw23us|title=Air China NW23 US Operation Changes – 27SEP23|publisher=AeroRoutes|date=September 28, 2023|accessdate=September 28, 2023}}</ref>
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| [[Air France]] | [[Charles de Gaulle Airport|Paris–Charles de Gaulle]] | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airfrance.ca/CA/en/local/resainfovol/horaires/horaires.do|title=Air France flight schedule|publisher=Air France|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116223753/https://www.airfrance.ca/CA/en/local/resainfovol/horaires/horaires.do|archive-date=November 16, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Air India]] | [[Kempegowda International Airport|Bengaluru]], [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]], [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport|Mumbai]]| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airindia.in/time-table.htm|title=Air India Timetable|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305051702/http://www.airindia.in/time-table.htm|archive-date=March 5, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Air New Zealand]] | [[Auckland Airport|Auckland]]<ref>{{OAGWorldAug2025Ref|title=Auckland, New Zealand AKL|pages=91-93}}</ref> | <ref>{{cite web|title=Flight schedules – Air New Zealand|url=https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/flight-schedules|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925185414/https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/flight-schedules|archive-date=September 25, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Air Premia]] | [[Incheon International Airport|Seoul–Incheon]] | <ref>{{cite web |title=Air Premia schedules mid-May 2024 San Francisco launch |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240119-ypns24us |publisher=AeroRoutes |date=19 January 2024 |accessdate=19 January 2024}}</ref>
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| [[Alaska Airlines]] | [[Austin–Bergstrom International Airport|Austin]] (ends January 6, 2026),<ref name=ASCUTS2026>{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/251028-as2026na|title=Alaska Airlines 2026 Domestic / Mexico Network Changes – 26OCT25|publisher=Aeroroutes|date=October 28, 2025|accessdate=October 28, 2025}}</ref> [[Boise Airport|Boise]], [[Logan International Airport|Boston]] (ends January 6, 2026),<ref name= ASCUTS2026 /> [[Hollywood Burbank Airport|Burbank]] (ends March 17, 2026),<ref name= ASCUTS2026 /> [[Cancún International Airport|Cancún]], [[Paine Field|Everett]], [[Kona International Airport|Kailua-Kona]],<ref name="AS SFO-Hawaii">{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241211-asjun25sfo|title=Alaska Airlines Expands San Francisco - Hawaii Network from June 2025|publisher=AeroRoutes|date=December 11, 2024|accessdate=December 11, 2024}}</ref> [[McCarran International Airport|Las Vegas]], [[Lihue Airport|Lihue]],<ref name="AS SFO-Hawaii"/> [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark]] (ends June 9, 2026),<ref name= ASCUTS2026 /> [[John Wayne Airport|Orange County]], [[Orlando International Airport|Orlando]] (ends May 12, 2026),<ref name= ASCUTS2026 /> [[Palm Springs International Airport|Palm Springs]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor]] (ends March 17, 2026),<ref name= ASCUTS2026 /> [[Portland International Airport|Portland (OR)]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport|Puerto Vallarta]], [[Roberts Field|Redmond/Bend]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport|Salt Lake City]] (ends March 17, 2026),<ref name= ASCUTS2026 /> [[San Diego International Airport|San Diego]], [[Los Cabos International Airport|San José del Cabo]], [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle/Tacoma]], [[Spokane International Airport|Spokane]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–National]]<br />'''Seasonal:''' [[Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport|Anchorage]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport|Bozeman]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport|Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Jackson Hole Airport|Jackson Hole]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Guanacaste Airport|Liberia (CR)]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://airlinegeeks.com/2024/07/10/alaska-adds-18-new-routes/|title=Alaska Adds 18 New Routes|website=Airline Geeks|date=July 10, 2024|access-date=July 10, 2024 }}</ref> [[Loreto International Airport|Loreto]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}  | {{nowrap|<ref name="AlaskaRoutes">{{cite web|title=Flight Timetable|url=https://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/timetables.aspx|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202123138/https://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/timetables.aspx|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
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| [[All Nippon Airways]] | [[Haneda Airport|Tokyo–Haneda]], [[Narita International Airport|Tokyo–Narita]] | <ref>{{cite web|title=Timetables [International Routes]|url=https://www.ana.co.jp/en/us/book-plan/airinfo/timetable/international/|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624092943/https://www.ana.co.jp/en/us/book-plan/airinfo/timetable/international/|archive-date=June 24, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[American Airlines]] | [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte]], [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]], [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]], [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[Miami International Airport|Miami]], [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]], [[Philadelphia International Airport|Philadelphia]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor]] | <ref name="AmericanRoutes">{{cite web|title=Flight schedules and notifications|url=https://www.aa.com/travelInformation/flights/schedule|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202010611/https://www.aa.com/travelInformation/flights/schedule|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]] | [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor]] | <ref name="AmericanRoutes"/>
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| [[Asiana Airlines]] | [[Incheon International Airport|Seoul–Incheon]]<ref>{{OAGWorldAug2025Ref|title=Seoul, Korea Republic Of SEL|pages=1186-1190}}</ref> | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://flyasiana.com/C/US/EN/booking/route|title=Routes|publisher=Asiana Airlines|accessdate=September 1, 2023}}</ref>
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| [[Avianca El Salvador]] | [[El Salvador International Airport|San Salvador]] | <ref>{{cite web|title=Check itineraries|url=https://www.avianca.com/sv/en/electronic-services/check-itineraries|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305142643/https://www.avianca.com/sv/en/electronic-services/check-itineraries|archive-date=March 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Breeze Airways]] | [[Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport|Cincinnati]], [[Louisville International Airport|Louisville]], [[Provo Municipal Airport|Provo]], [[Richmond International Airport|Richmond]], [[San Bernardino International Airport|San Bernardino]] | <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.flybreeze.com/destinations | title=Breeze Airways }}</ref>
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| [[British Airways]] | [[Heathrow Airport|London–Heathrow]] | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishairways.com/travel/schedules/public/en_gb|title=Timetables|publisher=British Airways|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330083400/https://www.britishairways.com/travel/schedules/public/en_gb|archive-date=March 30, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Cathay Pacific]] | [[Hong Kong International Airport|Hong Kong]]<ref>{{OAGWorldAug2025Ref|title=Hong Kong (SAR) China HKG|pages=543-547}}</ref> | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_CA/book-a-trip/timetable.html|title=Flight Timetable|publisher=Cathay Pacific|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701155740/https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_CA/book-a-trip/timetable.html|archive-date=July 1, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[China Airlines]] | [[Taoyuan International Airport|Taipei–Taoyuan]]<ref>{{OAGWorldAug2025Ref|title=Taipei, Chinese Taipei TPE|pages=1253-1255}}</ref> | <ref>{{cite web |title= Timetable {{!}} China Airlines |url= https://www.china-airlines.com/us/en/fly/flight-status/timetable |access-date= April 13, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180805082651/https://www.china-airlines.com/us/en/fly/flight-status/timetable |archive-date= August 5, 2018 |url-status= live }}</ref>
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| [[China Eastern Airlines]] | [[Shanghai Pudong International Airport|Shanghai–Pudong]] | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230929-munw23us|title=China Eastern NW23 US Operations – 28 SEP23|publisher=AeroRoutes|date=September 29, 2023|accessdate=September 29, 2023}}</ref>
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| [[China Southern Airlines]] | [[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport|Guangzhou]],<ref>{{cite web |title=China Southern Resumes Nonstop Guangzhou – San Francisco Service in NS24 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240318-czns24sfo |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=18 March 2024}}</ref> [[Wuhan Tianhe International Airport|Wuhan]] | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230928-cznw23us|title=China Southern NW23 US Operation Changes – 28SEP23|publisher=AeroRoutes|date=September 28, 2023|accessdate=September 28, 2023}}</ref>
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| [[Condor (airline)|Condor]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Frankfurt Airport|Frankfurt]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://airlinegeeks.com/2025/03/21/condor-increases-north-america-capacity/#|title=Condor shakes up North America Network|publisher=Airline Geeks|date=March 21, 2025|accessdate=June 13, 2025}}</ref> | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://condor-newsroom.condor.com/en/us/news-article/summer-2022-with-condor-non-stop-to-16-destinations-in-north-america-1/ |title=Condor: Summer 2022: With Condor non-stop to 16 destinations in North America |publisher=Condor-newsroom.condor.com |date=2022-02-14 |access-date=2022-03-01}}</ref>
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| [[Copa Airlines]] | [[Tocumen International Airport|Panama City–Tocumen]] | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.copaair.com/en/web/ca/timetables|title=Flight Schedule|publisher=Copa Airlines|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109191849/https://www.copaair.com/en/web/ca/timetables|archive-date=November 9, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Delta Air Lines]] | [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]], [[Austin–Bergstrom International Airport|Austin]],<ref name="DLAUSExpansion" >{{cite web|url=https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/austin-airport/delta-air-lines-to-launch-five-more-new-nonstop-routes-from-austin-in-2025/|title=Delta Air Lines to launch five more new nonstop routes from Austin in 2025|website=KXAN|date=September 30, 2024}}</ref> [[Logan International Airport|Boston]], [[Detroit Metropolitan Airport|Detroit]], [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/St. Paul]], [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport|Salt Lake City]], [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle/Tacoma]] | <ref name="DeltaRoutes">{{cite web|title=FLIGHT SCHEDULES|url=https://www.delta.com/flightinfo/viewFlightSchedulesSetup.action|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621123636/http://www.delta.com/flightinfo/viewFlightSchedulesSetup.action|archive-date=June 21, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Delta Connection]] | [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle/Tacoma]] | <ref name="DeltaRoutes"/>
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| [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]] | [[Dubai International Airport|Dubai–International]]<ref>{{OAGWorldJuly2025Ref|title=Dubai, United Arab Emirates DXB|pages=345-351}}</ref> | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.emirates.com/ca/english/destinations_offers/timetables/flightschedule.aspx|title=Flight Schedules|publisher=Emirates|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630185434/https://www.emirates.com/ca/english/destinations_offers/timetables/flightschedule.aspx|archive-date=June 30, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[EVA Air]] | [[Taoyuan International Airport|Taipei–Taoyuan]]<ref>{{OAGWorldAug2025Ref|title=Taipei, Chinese Taipei TPE|pages=1253-1255}}</ref> | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://booking.evaair.com/flyeva/EVA/B2C/flight-schedules.aspx|title=Timetables |publisher=EVA Air|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516001221/http://booking.evaair.com/flyeva/EVA/B2C/flight-schedules.aspx|archive-date=May 16, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Fiji Airways]] | [[Nadi International Airport|Nadi]] | <ref>{{cite web|title=Flight Schedules|url=https://www.fijiairways.com/bookings/flight-schedules/|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805082755/https://www.fijiairways.com/bookings/flight-schedules/|archive-date=August 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Flair Airlines]] | [[Vancouver International Airport|Vancouver]]<ref>{{OAGWorldJuly2025Ref|title=Vancouver, BC, Canada YVR|pages=1184-1188}}</ref> | <ref name="Flair Airlines Schedule">{{cite web|title=Where we fly|url=https://flyflair.com/where-we-fly|website=Flair Airlines|access-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019215008/https://flyflair.com/where-we-fly|archive-date=October 19, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[French Bee]] | [[Faa'a International Airport|Papeete]], [[Orly Airport|Paris–Orly]] | <ref>{{cite web|title=Timetable – French Bee|url=https://us.frenchbee.com/en/timetable|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414092116/https://us.frenchbee.com/en/timetable|archive-date=April 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Frontier Airlines]] | [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]], [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]], [[Denver International Airport|Denver]], [[Harry Reid International Airport|Las Vegas]], [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[Ontario International Airport|Ontario]], [[John Wayne Airport|Orange County]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport|Salt Lake City]], [[San Diego International Airport|San Diego]] <br>'''Seasonal:''' [[Detroit Metropolitan Airport|Detroit]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Orlando International Airport|Orlando]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Palm Springs International Airport|Palm Springs]]<ref name="ARGS">{{Cite web |date=October 2, 2024 |title=SFO celebrates new Frontier Airlines service to Palm Springs and Vail |url=https://airlinergs.com/sfo-celebrates-new-frontier-airlines-service-to-palm-springs-and-vail/ |access-date=February 22, 2025 |website=Airline Routes & Ground Services}}</ref> | <ref name="FrontierRoutes">{{cite web|title=Frontier|url=https://www.flyfrontier.com|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912053526/https://www.flyfrontier.com/|archive-date=September 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Hawaiian Airlines]] | [[Daniel K. Inouye International Airport|Honolulu]], [[Kahului Airport|Kahului]] | <ref name="HawaiianRoutes">{{cite web|title=Destinations|url=https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/destinations|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129192310/https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/destinations|archive-date=January 29, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Iberia (airline)|Iberia]] | '''Seasonal:'''<!-- Flights to Barcelona are operated by Level not Iberia! --> [[Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport|Madrid]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aviacionline.com/iberia-resumes-its-seasonal-flights-between-madrid-and-san-francisco|title=Iberia resumes its seasonal flights between Madrid and San Francisco|publisher=Aviacionline|date=June 1, 2022|accessdate=June 10, 2025}}</ref> | <ref>{{cite web|title=Flight times – Iberia|url=https://www.iberia.com/gb/schedules/|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317232127/https://www.iberia.com/gb/schedules/|archive-date=March 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[ITA Airways]] | [[Rome Fiumicino Airport|Rome–Fiumicino]] | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itaspa.com/en_it/fly-ita/ita-world/network.html|title=ITA Airways network|access-date=August 29, 2024|archive-date=October 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016051605/https://www.itaspa.com/en_it/fly-ita/ita-world/network.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Japan Airlines]] | [[Haneda Airport|Tokyo–Haneda]], [[Narita International Airport|Tokyo–Narita]] | <ref>{{cite web|title=Japan Airlines Timetables|url=http://www.jal.co.jp/en/inter/route/time/|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015202347/http://www.jal.co.jp/en/inter/route/time/|archive-date=October 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[JetBlue]] | [[Logan International Airport|Boston]], [[Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport|Fort Lauderdale]], [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]] | <ref name="JetBlueRoutes">{{cite web|title=JetBlue Airlines Timetable|url=https://b6.innosked.com/(S(ke2am3wxgiegj0zs1pxotirq))/default.aspx|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713064749/http://b6.innosked.com/(S(52udsaj2thvywnmtihsndo55))/default.aspx|archive-date=July 13, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[KLM]] | [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Amsterdam]] | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.klm.com/travel/ca_en/prepare_for_travel/up_to_date/timetable/index.htm|title=View the Timetable|publisher=KLM|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912011516/https://www.klm.com/travel/ca_en/prepare_for_travel/up_to_date/timetable/index.htm|archive-date=September 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Korean Air]] | [[Incheon International Airport|Seoul–Incheon]]<ref>{{OAGWorldAug2025Ref|title=Seoul, Korea Republic Of SEL|pages=1186-1190}}</ref> | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.koreanair.com/global/en/booking/schedule-flight.html#schedule|title=Flight Status and Schedules|publisher=Korean Air|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628234008/https://www.koreanair.com/global/en/booking/schedule-flight.html#schedule|archive-date=June 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Level (airline)|Level]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport|Barcelona]]{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flylevel.com/en/destinations/overview|title=Destinations|publisher=Level|accessdate=July 24, 2023}}</ref>
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| [[LOT Polish Airlines]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Warsaw Chopin Airport|Warsaw–Chopin]] (begins May 6, 2026)<ref name="LOTPolish2026">{{Cite web |last=Silk |first=Robert |date=November 14, 2025 |title=LOT Polish Airlines will fly to San Francisco |url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/LOT-Polish-Airlines-will-fly-to-San-Francisco |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251114203413/https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/LOT-Polish-Airlines-will-fly-to-San-Francisco |archive-date=November 14, 2025 |access-date=November 15, 2025 |website=Travel Weekly |publisher=[[Northstar Travel Group]]}}</ref> | <ref name="LOTPolish2026"/>
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| [[Lufthansa]] | [[Frankfurt Airport|Frankfurt]], [[Munich Airport|Munich]] | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lufthansa.com/ca/en/Online-timetable|title=Timetable – Lufthansa Canada|publisher=Lufthansa|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109191434/http://www.lufthansa.com/ca/en/Online-timetable|archive-date=November 9, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Philippine Airlines]] | [[Ninoy Aquino International Airport|Manila]] | <ref>{{cite web|title=Flight Timetable|url=https://www.philippineairlines.com/TravelInformation/FlightTimetable|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201155146/https://www.philippineairlines.com/TravelInformation/FlightTimetable|archive-date=February 1, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Porter Airlines]] | [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto–Pearson]]<ref>{{OAGWorldJuly2025Ref|title=Toronto, ON, Canada YTO|pages=1156-1162}}</ref> | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/porter-adds-los-angeles-and-san-francisco-to-growing-list-of-u-s-destinations-846140778.html|title=Porter adds Los Angeles and San Francisco to growing list of U.S. destinations|publisher=Cision|date=October 3, 2023|accessdate=October 3, 2023}}</ref>
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| [[Qantas]] | [[Sydney Airport|Sydney]] | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220827-qfns23sfo|title=QANTAS 2022/23 San Francisco Service Adjustment – 27Aug22|publisher=aeroroutes|access-date=24 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Qantas San Francisco changes |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221021-qfns23sfo |access-date=8 January 2023 |publisher=Aeroroutes}}</ref>
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| [[Qatar Airways]] | [[Hamad International Airport|Doha]] | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.qatarairways.com/en-us/destinations/flights-to-san-francisco.html|title=Discover a timeless beauty in San Francisco|publisher=Qatar Airways|access-date=October 10, 2020}}</ref>
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| [[Scandinavian Airlines]] | [[Copenhagen Airport|Copenhagen]] | <ref>{{cite web|title=Timetable – SAS|url=https://www.flysas.com/en/us/Generic/Services/Timetable/|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317232132/https://www.flysas.com/en/us/Generic/Services/Timetable/|archive-date=March 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Singapore Airlines]] | [[Changi Airport|Singapore]]<ref>{{OAGWorldAug2025Ref|title=Singapore, Singapore SIN|pages=1214-1219}}</ref> | <ref>{{cite web|title=Flight schedules|url=https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/plan-and-book/your-booking/flightschedule/|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512170601/https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/plan-and-book/your-booking/flightschedule/|archive-date=May 12, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Southwest Airlines]] | [[Austin–Bergstrom International Airport|Austin]],<ref name="WN2025" >{{cite web|url=https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/austin-airport/southwest-airlines-to-launch-nonstop-service-from-austin-to-san-francisco-in-2025/|title=Southwest Airlines to launch nonstop service from Austin to San Francisco in 2025|website=KXAN|date=December 12, 2024}}</ref> [[Baltimore/Washington International Airport|Baltimore]],<ref name="SWEXoct">{{cite web |title=Southwest adds 13 additional "redeye" flights to its schedule with 6 going to BWI (Baltimore/Washington) |url=https://worldairlinenews.com/2024/10/30/southwest-adds-13-additional-redeye-flights-to-its-schedule-with-6-going-to-bwi-baltimore-washington/|website=World Airline News|date=October 30, 2024|access-date=October 30, 2024}}</ref> [[Hollywood Burbank Airport|Burbank]] (resumes March 5, 2026),<ref>{{cite web |title=Southwest Airlines Oct 2025 – Apr 2026 Domestic Network Additions |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250915-wnnw25us |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=15 September 2025}}</ref> [[Midway International Airport|Chicago–Midway]], [[Love Field Airport|Dallas–Love]] (resumes March 5, 2026),<ref>{{cite web |title=Southwest bulks up 2026 schedule from Love Field |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2025/08/14/southwest-bulks-up-2026-schedule-from-love-field/}}</ref> [[Denver International Airport|Denver]], [[Harry Reid International Airport|Las Vegas]], [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[Nashville International Airport|Nashville]],<ref name="SWEXoct"/> [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor]], [[San Diego International Airport|San Diego]], [[St. Louis Lambert International Airport|St. Louis]]<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/airport/news/schedule-update-routes.cfm|title= Southwest's Latest STL Schedule Update Expands/Resumes Routes |access-date=August 3, 2023}}</ref><br> | <ref name="SouthwestRoutes">{{cite web|title=Check Flight Schedules|url=https://www.southwest.com/air/flight-schedules/index.html|access-date=August 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202053931/https://www.southwest.com/air/flight-schedules/index.html|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.southwest.com/route-map/ |title=Southwest Airlines Route Map |publisher=Southwest Airlines |access-date=January 4, 2024}}</ref>
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| [[Starlux Airlines]] | [[Taoyuan International Airport|Taipei–Taoyuan]]<ref>{{OAGWorldAug2025Ref|title=Taipei, Chinese Taipei TPE|pages=1253-1255}}</ref> | <ref>{{Cite web |last=Hardee |first=Howard |date=September 12, 2023 |title=Starlux plans to launch trans-Pacific routes to San Francisco and Seattle |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/networks/starlux-plans-to-launch-trans-pacific-routes-to-san-francisco-and-seattle/154909.article |access-date=October 2, 2023 |website=[[FlightGlobal]]}}</ref>
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| [[Sun Country Airlines]] | [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/St. Paul]] | <ref>{{cite web |title=Route Map |url=https://www.suncountry.com/route-map |access-date=June 2, 2021}}</ref>
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| {{nowrap|[[Swiss International Air Lines]]}} | [[Zurich Airport|Zürich]] | <ref>{{cite web|title=Timetable|url=https://www.swiss.com/CH/EN/book/flight-information/timetable.html|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317232924/https://www.swiss.com/CH/EN/book/flight-information/timetable.html|archive-date=March 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[TAP Air Portugal]] | [[Lisbon Airport|Lisbon]] <br>'''Seasonal:''' [[Lajes Airport|Terceira]]<ref name="TAP-OPO">{{cite web |url= https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/new-nonstop-tap-air-portugal-routes-connect-boston-los-angeles-and-san-francisco-with-portugals-top-destinations-starting-in-may-2025-what-travelers-need-to-know/|title=New Nonstop TAP Air Portugal Routes Connect Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco with Portugal's Top Destinations Starting in May 2025: What Travelers Need to Know|website=Travel and Tour World|date=December 3, 2024|access-date=December 3, 2024 }}</ref>| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flytap.com/en-pt/destinations/all-destinations|title=All Destinations|publisher=TAP Portugal|access-date=December 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512030032/https://www.flytap.com/en-pt/destinations/all-destinations|archive-date=May 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Turkish Airlines]] | [[Istanbul Airport|Istanbul]] | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/flights/|title=Online Flight Schedule|publisher=Turkish Airlines|access-date=April 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410174518/https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/flights/|archive-date=April 10, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[United Airlines]] | [[Albuquerque International Sunport|Albuquerque]], [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]], [[Auckland Airport|Auckland]], [[Austin–Bergstrom International Airport|Austin]], [[Baltimore/Washington International Airport|Baltimore]], [[Beijing Capital International Airport|Beijing–Capital]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sfstandard.com/2023/08/23/united-airlines-resuming-san-francisco-sfo-asia-pacific-routes/|title=San Francisco Airport: United Airlines resumes, expands routes to Asia|website=The San Francisco Standard|date=August 23, 2023|access-date=August 23, 2023}}</ref> [[Boise Airport|Boise]], [[Logan International Airport|Boston]], [[Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport|Bozeman]], [[Brisbane Airport|Brisbane]], [[Hollywood Burbank Airport|Burbank]], [[Calgary International Airport|Calgary]], [[Cancún International Airport|Cancún]], [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]], [[Cleveland Hopkins International Airport|Cleveland]], [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]], [[Denver International Airport|Denver]], [[Detroit Metropolitan Airport|Detroit]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240425-uaaug24sfo|title=United Resumes San Francisco - Detroit/ St. Louis in Aug 2024|publisher=AeroRoutes|date=April 25, 2024|accessdate=April 25, 2024}}</ref> [[Eugene Airport|Eugene]], [[Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport|Fort Lauderdale]], [[Frankfurt Airport|Frankfurt]], [[Hong Kong International Airport|Hong Kong]], [[Daniel K. Inouye International Airport|Honolulu]], [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–Intercontinental]], [[Indianapolis International Airport|Indianapolis]], [[Kahului Airport|Kahului]], [[Kona International Airport|Kailua-Kona]], [[Harry Reid International Airport|Las Vegas]], [[Lihue Airport|Lihue]], [[Heathrow Airport|London–Heathrow]], [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[Ninoy Aquino International Airport|Manila]], [[Rogue Valley International–Medford Airport|Medford]], [[Melbourne Airport|Melbourne]], [[Mexico City International Airport|Mexico City]], [[Miami International Airport|Miami]],  [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/St. Paul]], [[Munich Airport|Munich]], [[Nashville International Airport|Nashville]], [[Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport|New Orleans]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark]], [[Ontario International Airport|Ontario]], [[John Wayne Airport|Orange County]], [[Orlando International Airport|Orlando]], [[Kansai International Airport|Osaka–Kansai]], [[Tocumen International Airport|Panama City–Tocumen]] (ends January 5, 2026),<ref>{{Cite web |title=United / Copa Airlines 1H26 San Francisco – Panama City Service Changes |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/251001-uacm1h26sfopty |access-date=2025-10-01 |website=AeroRoutes |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://airlinergs.com/sfo-welcomes-united-airlines-nonstop-service-to-panama/|title=SFO welcomes United Airlines nonstop, service to Panama|publisher=Airline Routes & Ground Services|date=December 16, 2024|accessdate=December 21, 2024}}</ref> [[Faa'a International Airport|Papeete]], [[Charles de Gaulle Airport|Paris–Charles de Gaulle]], [[Philadelphia International Airport|Philadelphia]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor]], [[Pittsburgh International Airport|Pittsburgh]], [[Portland International Airport|Portland (OR)]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport|Puerto Vallarta]], [[Raleigh–Durham International Airport|Raleigh/Durham]], [[Roberts Field|Redmond/Bend]], [[Reno–Tahoe International Airport|Reno/Tahoe]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport|Salt Lake City]], [[San Antonio International Airport|San Antonio]], [[San Diego International Airport|San Diego]], [[Juan Santamaría International Airport|San José (CR)]],<ref>{{cite web|title=United Airlines (UAL) Adds Eight New International Destinations|url=https://www.streetinsider.com/Corporate+News/United+Airlines+%28UAL%29+Adds+Eight+New+International+Destinations/23823251.html|website=StreetInsider |access-date=October 10, 2024}}</ref> [[Los Cabos International Airport|San José del Cabo]], [[Santa Barbara Municipal Airport|Santa Barbara]], [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle/Tacoma]], [[Incheon International Airport|Seoul–Incheon]], [[Shanghai Pudong International Airport|Shanghai–Pudong]], [[Changi Airport|Singapore]],  [[St. Louis Lambert International Airport|St. Louis]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/business-journal/united-airlines-adding-flights-lambert-airport-to-san-francisco/63-0941f158-4ded-46e2-bf24-2e078d71842b|title=Airline adding flights at Lambert Airport to key destination|publisher=KSDK|date=April 22, 2024|accessdate=April 24, 2024}}</ref> [[Sydney Airport|Sydney]], [[Taoyuan International Airport|Taipei–Taoyuan]], [[Tampa International Airport|Tampa]], [[Haneda Airport|Tokyo–Haneda]], [[Narita International Airport|Tokyo–Narita]], [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto–Pearson]], [[Vancouver International Airport|Vancouver]], [[Dulles International Airport|Washington–Dulles]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–National]] <br />'''Seasonal:''' [[Adelaide Airport|Adelaide]] (begins December 11, 2025),<ref name="UnitedAdelaide">{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Blake |date=April 3, 2025 |title=United to fly direct between Adelaide and San Francisco in a major win for South Australians |url=https://7news.com.au/travel/air-aviation/united-to-fly-direct-between-adelaide-and-san-francisco-in-a-major-win-for-south-australians-c-18249400 |access-date=April 3, 2025 |publisher=[[Seven News]]}}</ref>  [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Amsterdam]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport|Anchorage]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport|Barcelona]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://liveandletsfly.com/united-airlines-san-francisco-barcelona/|title=UNITED AIRLINES ADDS SAN FRANCISCO – BARCELONA SERVICE|website=Live and Let's Fly|date=December 6, 2023|access-date=December 6, 2023}}</ref> [[Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport|Belize City]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://myemail-api.constantcontact.com/Belize-and-United-Airlines-Announce-New-Non-stop-Flight-from-San-Francisco.html?soid=1105674443419&aid=u-ALj_B_c34|title=Belize and United Airlines Announce New Non-stop Flight from San Francisco}}</ref> [[Christchurch Airport|Christchurch]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newsline.ccc.govt.nz/news/story/flights-from-christchurch-to-san-francisco-will-take-off-this-summer|title=Flights from Christchurch to San Francisco will take off this summer|date=19 April 2023|publisher=[[Christchurch City Council]]|access-date=19 April 2023|archive-date=May 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523032508/https://newsline.ccc.govt.nz/news/story/flights-from-christchurch-to-san-francisco-will-take-off-this-summer|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230814-uanw23inc|title=UNITED NW23 INTERCONTINENTAL NETWORK CHANGES – 11AUG23|date=13 August 2023|access-date=13 August 2023}}</ref> [[John Glenn Columbus International Airport|Columbus–Glenn]], [[Southwest Florida International Airport|Fort Myers]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://airportimprovement.com/article/united-airlines-to-start-nonstop-fort-myers-to-los-angeles-and-san-francisco-service-this-winter/|title=United Airlines To Start Nonstop Fort Myers To Los Angeles And San Francisco Service This Winter|date=July 15, 2022|website=airportimprovement.com}}</ref> [[Jackson Hole Airport|Jackson Hole]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport|Liberia (CR)]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport|Montréal–Trudeau]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2024/04/27/united-airlines-launching-san-francisco-montreal-flights/|title=United Airlines Launching New Flights from San Francisco to Montreal|website=aviationa2z.com|date=April 27, 2024|access-date=April 28, 2024}}</ref> [[Eppley Airfield|Omaha]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250617-ua2h2531973g|title=United 2H25 A319/737-700 North America Network Additions|publisher=Aeroroutes.com|date=June 17, 2025|accessdate=June 18, 2025}}</ref> [[Palm Springs International Airport|Palm Springs]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport|Rome–Fiumicino]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aviacionline.com/united-to-operate-flights-between-san-francisco-and-rome|title=United to operate flights between San Francisco and Rome|publisher=Aviacionline|date=October 26, 2022|accessdate=June 13, 2025}}</ref> [[Zurich Airport|Zürich]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aviacionline.com/united-airlines-to-resume-flights-between-san-francisco-and-zurich|title=United to resume flights between San Francisco and Zurich|publisher=Aviacionline|date=February 8, 2022|accessdate=June 13, 2025}}</ref> | <ref name="UnitedRoutes">{{cite web|title=Timetable|url=https://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps/travel/timetable/default.aspx|access-date=July 16, 2024|publisher=United Airlines Holdings|location=Chicago|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128165254/https://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps/travel/timetable/default.aspx|archive-date=January 28, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[United Express]] | [[Albuquerque International Sunport|Albuquerque]], [[Meadows Field Airport|Bakersfield]], [[Boise Airport|Boise]], [[Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport|Bozeman]], [[Hollywood Burbank Airport|Burbank]], [[Arcata–Eureka Airport|Eureka]], [[Fresno Yosemite International Airport|Fresno]], [[Kansas City International Airport|Kansas City]], [[Rogue Valley International–Medford Airport|Medford]], [[Monterey Regional Airport|Monterey]], [[Monterrey International Airport|Monterrey]],<ref name="ualmty">{{cite web|url=https://www.aviacionline.com/2024/06/united-airlines-will-have-nonstop-service-between-san-francisco-and-monterrey/|title=United Airlines will have nonstop service between San Francisco and Monterrey|access-date=June 15, 2024|date=June 2024|website=AviaciOnline}}</ref> [[Southwest Oregon Regional Airport|North Bend/Coos Bay]], [[Eppley Airfield|Omaha]], [[John Wayne Airport|Orange County]], [[Palm Springs International Airport|Palm Springs]], [[Portland International Airport|Portland (OR)]], [[Redding Municipal Airport|Redding]], [[Roberts Field|Redmond/Bend]], [[Reno–Tahoe International Airport|Reno/Tahoe]], [[Sacramento International Airport|Sacramento]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport|Salt Lake City]], [[McClellan–Palomar Airport|San Diego/Carlsbad]] (begins March 30, 2026),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/united-airlines-new-route-carlsbad/amp/ |title= United Airlines launches new nonstop flights between Carlsbad and this major city|author-first1=Amber|author-last1=Coakley|website=Fox5 San Diego|date=October 22, 2025|access-date=October 23, 2025}}</ref> [[San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport|San Luis Obispo]], [[Santa Barbara Municipal Airport|Santa Barbara]], [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle/Tacoma]], [[Spokane International Airport|Spokane]], [[Tri-Cities Airport (Washington)|Tri-Cities (WA)]], [[Tucson International Airport|Tucson]]<br />'''Seasonal:''' [[Aspen/Pitkin County Airport|Aspen]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Eastern Sierra Regional Airport|Bishop]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Eagle County Regional Airport|Eagle/Vail]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Eugene Airport|Eugene]], [[Glacier Park International Airport|Glacier Park/Kalispell]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Yampa Valley Airport|Hayden/Steamboat Springs]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Missoula International Airport|Missoula]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Montrose Regional Airport|Montrose]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Ontario International Airport|Ontario]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[San Antonio International Airport|San Antonio]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Friedman Memorial Airport|Sun Valley]],{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} [[Vancouver International Airport|Vancouver]]{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} | <ref name="UnitedRoutes"/>
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| [[Vietnam Airlines]] | [[Tan Son Nhat International Airport|Ho Chi Minh City]]<ref>{{OAGWorldAug2025Ref|title=Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam SGN|pages=538-541}}</ref> | <ref>{{cite web |title=Vietnam Airlines direct flight to US takes off next week |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/companies/vietnam-airlines-direct-flight-to-us-takes-off-next-week-4386594.html |website=VN Express |access-date=16 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
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| [[Virgin Atlantic]] | [[Heathrow Airport|London–Heathrow]] | <ref name="VirginAtlanticRoutes">{{cite web|title=Interactive flight map|url=http://vs.fltmaps.com/en/gb|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424150818/http://vs.fltmaps.com/en/gb|archive-date=April 24, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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| [[WestJet]] | [[Calgary International Airport|Calgary]]<ref>{{OAGWorldJuly2025Ref|title=Calgary, AB, Canada YYC|pages=204-206}}</ref> <br />'''Seasonal:''' [[Edmonton International Airport|Edmonton]],<ref>{{OAGWorldJuly2025Ref|title=Edmonton, AB, Canada YEA|pages=373-374}}</ref> [[Vancouver International Airport|Vancouver]]<ref>{{OAGWorldJuly2025Ref|title=Vancouver, BC, Canada YVR|pages=1184-1188}}</ref> | <ref name="WestJetRoutes">{{cite web|title=Flight schedules|url=https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/flight-info/flight-schedules|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210131344/https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/flight-info/flight-schedules|archive-date=February 10, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
<!-- -->
| [[Zipair Tokyo]] | [[Narita International Airport|Tokyo–Narita]] | <ref name=services>{{cite web|url=https://www.zipair.net/en/about|title=Zipair Basic Information|website=Zipair|access-date=July 22, 2022}}</ref>
}}

===Cargo===
{{Airport destination list
<!-- -->
| [[ABX Air]]<ref name="ABX Air">{{cite web|url=http://www.abxair.com/|title=ABX Air|access-date=March 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330135445/http://www.abxair.com/|archive-date=March 30, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> | [[Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport|Cincinnati]], [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]]
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| {{nowrap|[[Amazon Air]]}} | [[Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport|Cincinnati]], [[Fort Worth Alliance Airport|Fort Worth/Alliance]]
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| [[Asiana Airlines|Asiana Cargo]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asianacargo.com |title=Asiana Cargo Schedule |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017163838/https://www.asianacargo.com/ |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> | [[Incheon International Airport|Seoul–Incheon]]
<!-- -->
| [[China Airlines Cargo]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cargo.china-airlines.com/CCNet/global/index.aspx |title=China Airlines Cargo Schedule |access-date=March 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403182116/https://cargo.china-airlines.com/CCNet/global/index.aspx |archive-date=April 3, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> | [[Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport|Anchorage]], [[Taoyuan International Airport|Taipei–Taoyuan]]
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| [[DHL Aviation]] | [[Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport|Cincinnati]], [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle/Tacoma]]
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| [[EVA Air Cargo]] | [[Taoyuan International Airport|Taipei–Taoyuan]]
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| [[FedEx Express]] | [[Fort Worth Alliance Airport|Fort Worth/Alliance]], [[Memphis International Airport|Memphis]]
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| [[Kalitta Air]] | [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[Incheon International Airport|Seoul–Incheon]]
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| [[Korean Air Cargo]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cargo.koreanair.com/eng/main_page.jsp |title=Korean Air Cargo |access-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129125430/http://cargo.koreanair.com/eng/main_page.jsp |archive-date=January 29, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> | [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[Incheon International Airport|Seoul–Incheon]]
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| [[Nippon Cargo Airlines]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nca.aero/e/service/schedule/documents/NCAS13Timetable_MFOR1_FROMandTOJAPANupdate.pdf |title=NCA Flight Schedule |website=Nippon Cargo Airlines |date=Summer 2013 |access-date=June 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714135756/http://www.nca.aero/e/service/schedule/documents/NCAS13Timetable_MFOR1_FROMandTOJAPANupdate.pdf |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> | [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[Narita International Airport|Tokyo–Narita]]
<!-- -->
}}

==Statistics==
[[File:San Francisco International Airport passenger destinations_July2025.png|thumb|San Francisco International Airport passenger destinations]]

===Top destinations===

====Domestic====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%"
|+ Busiest domestic routes<!-- BTS DATA IS ONLY FOR DESTINATIONS; THIS IS NOT "TO AND FROM" --> (August 2024 – July 2025)<ref name="RITA | BTS | Transtats">{{cite web |title=San Francisco, CA: San Francisco International (SFO)	 |url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?20=E&Nv42146=fSb&Nv42146_anzr=fn0%20S4n0pv5p1,%20PN:%20fn0%20S4n0pv5p1%20V06r40n6v10ny&pn44vr4=SNPgf|publisher=[[Bureau of Transportation Statistics]] |access-date=December 12, 2024}}</ref>
|-
! Rank
! City
! Passengers
! Carriers
|-
| 1
| {{flagicon|California}} [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles, California]]
| 1,372,000
| Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, United
|-
| 2
| {{flagicon|Illinois}} [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois]]
| 965,000
| Alaska, American, United
|-
| 3
| {{flagicon|New York (state)}} [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK, New York]]
| 924,000
| Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue
|-
| 4
| {{flagicon|Colorado}} [[Denver International Airport|Denver, Colorado]]
| 860,000
| Frontier, Southwest, United
|-
| 5
| {{flagicon|New Jersey}} [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark, New Jersey]]
| 859,000
| Alaska, United
|-
| 6
| {{flagicon|California}} [[San Diego International Airport|San Diego, California]]
| 804,000
| Alaska, Frontier, Southwest, United
|-
| 7
| {{flagicon|Washington (state)}} [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle/Tacoma, Washington]]
| 799,000
| Alaska, Delta, United
|-
| 8
| {{flagicon|Nevada}} [[Harry Reid International Airport|Las Vegas, Nevada]]
| 673,000
| Alaska, Frontier, Southwest, United
|-
| 9
| {{flagicon|Massachusetts}} [[Logan International Airport|Boston, Massachusetts]] 
| 689,000
| Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, United
|-
| 10
| {{flagicon|Texas}} [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas]]
| 637,000
| American, Frontier, United
|}

====International====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%"
|+ Busiest international routes (2024)<ref name="internationalreport">{{cite web |title=BTS Air Carriers : T-100 International Market (All Carriers) |url=https://data.transportation.gov/Aviation/International_Report_Passengers/xgub-n9bw/about_data |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 12, 2024}}</ref><!--Totals calculated on December 12, 2024, using raw data available at source.-->
|-
! Rank
! Airport
! Passengers
! {{Abbr|YoY|Year over year}} change
! Rank change
! Carriers
|-
| 1
| {{flagicon|Taiwan}} [[Taoyuan International Airport|Taipei–Taoyuan, Taiwan]]
| 1,357,244
| {{increase}} 21.34%
| {{steady}}
| China Airlines, EVA Air, Starlux Airlines, United
|-
| 2
| {{nowrap|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Heathrow Airport|London–Heathrow, United Kingdom]]}}
| 1,041,811
| {{increase}} 0.12%
| {{steady}}
| British Airways, United, Virgin Atlantic
|-
| 3
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Vancouver International Airport|Vancouver, Canada]]
| 816,819
| {{increase}} 2.91%
| {{steady}}
| Air Canada, Flair, United, WestJet
|-
| 4
| {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Incheon International Airport|Seoul–Incheon, South Korea]]
| 700,297
| {{increase}} 3.46%
| {{steady}}
| Air Premia, Asiana Airlines, Korean Air, United
|-
| 5
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Frankfurt Airport|Frankfurt, Germany]]
| 636,217
| {{increase}} 2.26%
| {{steady}}
| Condor, Lufthansa, United
|-
| 6
| {{flagicon|Hong Kong}} [[Hong Kong International Airport|Hong Kong, Hong Kong]]
| 633,410
| {{increase}} 32.32%
| {{increase}} 3
| Cathay Pacific, United
|-
| 7
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto, Canada]]
| 619,841
| {{increase}} 11.55%
| {{steady}}
| Air Canada, Porter Airlines, United
|-
| 8
| {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Narita International Airport|Tokyo–Narita, Japan]]
| 575,723
| {{increase}} 16.04%
| {{steady}}
| {{nowrap|All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, United, Zipair Tokyo}}
|-
| 9
| {{flagicon|Singapore}} [[Changi Airport|Singapore, Singapore]]
| 544,512
| {{decrease}} 7.48%
| {{decrease}} 3
| Singapore Airlines, United
|-
| 10
| {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Mexico City International Airport|Mexico City, Mexico]]
| 493,301
| {{increase}} 8.71%
| {{steady}}
| Aeromexico, United
|}

===Airline market share===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
|+ Largest airlines (based on domestic + international) <ref>{{Cite web |title=SFO Fact Sheet: Five Largest Airlines at SFO (market share based on domestic + international seats combined) |url= https://www.flysfo.com/about/about-sfo/sfo-fact-sheet |access-date=February 23, 2025}}</ref>
|-
!Rank
!Airline
!Passengers
!Percent of market share
|-
| 1
| [[United Airlines]]
| 24,005,121
| 46.8%
|-
| 2
| [[Alaska Airlines]]
| 5,334,471
| 10.4%
|-
| 3
| [[Delta Air Lines]]
| 4,154,732
| 8.1%
|-
| 4
| [[American Airlines]]
| 3,487,923
| 6.8%
|-
| 5
| [[Southwest Airlines]]
| 2,051,719
| 4.0%
|-
| –
| Other
| 12,259,025
| 23.9%
|}

===Traffic numbers===
{{Airport-Statistics|iata=SFO}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 95%"
|+ Traffic by calendar year<ref name="stats">{{cite report |title=Air Traffic Statistics |url=http://www.flysfo.com/about/media/facts-statistics/air-traffic-statistics |publisher=San Francisco International Airport |access-date= January 28, 2025}}</ref>
|-
! Year
! {{abbr|Rank|Worldwide ranking according to Airports Council International}}
! Enplaned and<br />deplaned passengers
! Change
! Aircraft movements
! Cargo (tonnes)
|-
!1998
| || 40,101,387 ||  || 432,046 || 598,579
|-
!1999
| || 40,387,538 || {{increase}} 0.7% || 438,685 || 655,409
|-
!2000
|9 || 41,048,996 || {{increase}} 1.8% || 429,222 || '''695,258'''
|-
!2001
|14 || 34,632,474 || {{decrease}} 15.6% || 387,594 || 517,124
|-
!2002
|19 || 31,450,168 || {{decrease}} 9.2% || 351,453 || 506,083
|-
!2003
|22 || 29,313,271 || {{decrease}} 6.8%  || 334,515 || 483,413
|-
!2004
|21 || 32,744,186 || {{increase}} 8.8% || 353,231 || 489,776
|-
!2005
|23 || 33,394,225 || {{increase}} 2.0% || 352,871 || 520,386
|-
!2006
|26 || 33,581,412 || {{increase}} 0.5% || 359,201 || 529,303
|-
!2007
|23 || 35,790,746 || {{increase}} 6.6% || 379,500 || 503,899
|-
!2008
|21 || 37,402,541 || {{increase}} 4.5% || 387,710 || 429,912
|-
!2009
|20 || 37,453,634 || {{increase}} 0.1% || 379,751 || 356,266
|-
!2010
|23 || 39,391,234 || {{increase}} 5.2% || 387,248 || 384,179
|-
!2011
|22 || 41,045,431 || {{increase}} 4.2% || 403,564 || 340,766
|-
!2012
|22 || 44,477,209 || {{increase}} 8.4% || 424,566 || 337,357
|-
!2013
|22 || 44,944,201 || {{increase}} 1.2% || 421,400 || 325,782
|-
!2014
|21 || 47,074,162 || {{increase}} 4.9% || 431,633 || 349,585
|-
!2015
|15 || 50,067,094 || {{increase}} 6.2% || 429,815 || 389,934
|-
!2016
|23 || 53,106,505 || {{increase}} 6.1% || 450,388 || 420,086
|-
!2017
|24 || 55,832,518 || {{increase}} 5.1% || 460,343 || 491,162
|-
!2018
|25 || '''57,793,313''' || {{increase}} 3.5% || '''470,164''' || 500,081
|-
!2019
|24 || 57,488,023 || {{decrease}} 0.5% || 458,496 || 546,437
|-
!2020
|50 || 16,427,801 || {{decrease}} 71.4% || 231,163 || 439,358
|-
!2021
|41 || 24,343,627 || {{increase}} 48.2% || 265,597 || 528,792
|-
!2022
|24 || 42,281,641 || {{increase}} 73.7% || 355,006 || 491,192
|-
!2023
|29 || 50,196,094 || {{increase}} 18.7% || 384,871 || 484,100
|-
!2024
|36 || 52,288,098 || {{increase}} 4.1% || 386,507 || 561,594
|}

==Ground transportation==
===Transit===
{{Update|the ferry shuttle|date=March 2024}}
[[File:SFO AirTrain web map October 2024.webp|thumb|left|Map of rail services at SFO]]
The [[AirTrain (San Francisco International Airport)|AirTrain]] is a [[landside]] people-mover system that connects each terminal, the two international terminal garages, the BART station, the Grand Hyatt hotel, the airport's Rental Car Center, and the Long-Term Parking garage. The AirTrain is fully automated and free to ride.<ref name="Airtrain FAQ">{{cite web |title=Airtrain FAQ |url=http://www.flysfo.com/web/page/atsfo/airtrain/faq/ |website=flySFO.com |publisher=San Francisco International Airport |access-date=August 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822031546/http://www.flysfo.com/web/page/atsfo/airtrain/faq |archive-date=August 22, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flysfo.com/to-from/getting-around-sfo|title = Getting Around SFO &#124; San Francisco International Airport| date=June 17, 2022 }}</ref>

[[Bay Area Rapid Transit]] (BART) serves the airport at [[San Francisco International Airport station]], located west of the International Terminal. The trains connect the airport directly to San Francisco, [[Oakland, California|Oakland]], and numerous other cities across the San Francisco Bay Area.

San Mateo County's transit agency, [[SamTrans]], serves the airport with several routes. Buses stop at the arrivals/baggage claim level of the domestic terminals and in courtyard A or G in the International Terminal.

BART trains and SamTrans buses also connect San Francisco International Airport to [[Caltrain]] with a transfer at [[Millbrae station]]. Millbrae will also be the connection between SFO and [[California High-Speed Rail]]; the station will be renamed to Millbrae–SFO station on the High Speed Rail line to coincide with the dual functionality of the station.<ref>{{Cite web |last=California High-Speed Rail Authority |title=Millbrae–SFO – California High Speed Rail |url=https://hsr.ca.gov/high-speed-rail-in-california/station-communities/millbrae-sfo/ |access-date=December 17, 2022 |website=California High Speed Rail}}</ref>

Prior to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the airport provided free [[shuttle bus]] service to and from the [[South San Francisco Ferry Terminal]], connecting with [[San Francisco Bay Ferry]] services from [[Alameda Ferry Terminal|Alameda]] and [[Oakland Ferry Terminal|Oakland]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Take the Ferry to SFO {{!}} San Francisco Bay Ferry|url=https://sanfranciscobayferry.com/sfo-shuttle|website=sanfranciscobayferry.com|access-date=May 2, 2020|archive-date=March 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320200740/https://sanfranciscobayferry.com/sfo-shuttle|url-status=dead}}</ref> This service is no longer active. 

Numerous door-to-door "shared ride" van and hotel courtesy shuttles stop at the center transportation island on the departure level, while Marin Airporter buses and limousines are on the arrivals/baggage claim level of the airport.  Charter services are also available in the courtyards.
{{clear left}}

===Car===
[[File:Aerial view of San Francisco International Airport 2010.jpg|thumb|Bird's-eye view of the airport in February 2010. A [[Spaghetti Junction|spaghetti junction]] connects the passenger terminal roads to [[US Route 101]].]]
The airport is located on [[U.S. Route 101 (California)|U.S. Route 101]], {{convert|13|mi|km|0}} south of downtown San Francisco. It is near the US 101 interchange with [[Interstate 380 (California)|Interstate 380]], a short freeway that connects US 101 with [[Interstate 280 (California)|Interstate 280]]. Short term parking is located in the central terminal area and two international terminal garages. Long term parking is located on South Airport Blvd. and San Bruno Ave.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking |title=Parking at a Glance |website=flySFO.com |publisher=San Francisco International Airport |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828203651/http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking |archive-date=August 28, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Passengers can also park long-term at a select number of BART stations that have parking lots, with a permit purchased online in advance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bart.gov/guide/parking/index.aspx |title=BART – Parking |publisher=Bart.gov |access-date=July 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527091343/http://www.bart.gov/guide/parking/index.aspx |archive-date=May 27, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Taxi===
Taxis depart from designated taxi zones located at the roadway center islands, on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level of all terminals.<ref>{{cite web |title=Taxi Pick-Up Locations |url=http://www.flysfo.com/web/page/tofrom/transp-serv/taxis/pickup.html |website=flySFO.com |publisher=San Francisco International Airport |access-date=August 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720052644/http://www.flysfo.com/web/page/tofrom/transp-serv/taxis/pickup.html |archive-date=July 20, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ride app services such as Uber and Lyft are available via their respective mobile app.  The designated ride app pickup area for domestic terminals is on the fifth floor of the adjacent garage. The designated pickup area for the International Terminal is on the Departures/Check-In Level roadway center island.

==Other facilities==
SFO is home to one of the largest single aircraft maintenance bases in the world with complete MRO base operations, including maintenance, repair, overhaul, painting, welding, machine shop, tool and die, parts manufacturing, fabrication, engineering, and retrofitting (Boeing and Airbus certified, among others). It serves as the principal Global MRO Base for United Airlines and serves over 40 other airlines, military customers, and aircraft lease operators.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2013/03/20/united-airlines-extends-lease-on-san.html |title=United Airlines extends lease on San Francisco maintenance facility|website=Chicago Business Journal |access-date=April 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323204522/http://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2013/03/20/united-airlines-extends-lease-on-san.html |archive-date=March 23, 2013 |url-status=live |author-last1=Lazare|author-first1=Lewis|date=20 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.unitedtechops.com/mro/ |title=United Technical Operations |access-date=April 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705115903/https://www.unitedtechops.com/mro/ |archive-date=July 5, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.unitedtechops.com/news-and-media/docs/svc-bro-mro-overview.pdf |title=United Technical Operations |access-date=April 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526222425/http://unitedtechops.com/news-and-media/docs/svc-bro-mro-overview.pdf |archive-date=May 26, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/TP9vdkVkXCk Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160613010840/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP9vdkVkXCk&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP9vdkVkXCk |title=Take a tour of the maintenance facility for United Airlines |publisher=YouTube |date=June 12, 2016 |access-date=May 19, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The eastern side of the airfield is dominated by the Superbay, a {{convert|420550|sqft|adj=on}} maintenance hangar capable of holding four 747s.  Originally constructed in the 1970s, the facility is shared by United Airlines and American Airlines.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.weitz.com/projects/san-francisco-international-airport-superbay-hangar/ |title=San Francisco International Airport Superbay Hangar |publisher=Weitz |access-date=May 1, 2022}}</ref>

[[Nippon Cargo Airlines]] has its [[San Francisco]] branch on the airport property.<ref>"[http://www.nca.aero/e/profile/branch/america.html America] {{Webarchive|url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170525173113/http://www.nca.aero/e/profile/branch/america.html |date=May 25, 2017 }}." [[Nippon Cargo Airlines]]. Retrieved on February 17, 2012. "900 North Access Road, San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, CA 94128, U.S.A."</ref>

Prior to its merger that formed [[Hughes Airwest|AirWest]], [[Pacific Air Lines]] had its corporate headquarters on the grounds of the airport.<ref>''[[Flight International]]''. April 2, 1964. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1964/1964%20-%200922.html 523] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306192520/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1964/1964%20-%200922.html |date=March 6, 2012 }}. "Head Office: International Airport, San Francisco, California."</ref> [[Hughes Airwest]], the successor to Air West, also had its headquarters on the grounds of the airport.<ref>"World Airline Directory." ''[[Flight International]]''. April 28, 1979. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%201441.html?search=%22Hughes%20Airwest%22 1379] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306192459/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%201441.html?search=%22Hughes%20Airwest%22 |date=March 6, 2012 }}. "Head Office: San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, Ealif 94128, USA."</ref>

The [[United States Coast Guard]] operates [[Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco]] with its ramp and buildings near the cargo terminal, operating six [[MH-65 Dolphin]] helicopters.

The United States Postal Service had an Air Mail Facility (AMF), later an International Service Center (ISC) located on Airport property. However, the post office was closed in 2022, after its lease was not renewed by the airport.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/san-francisco-international-airport-post-office-permanently-closes/article_73772dda-b0aa-11ec-835a-2f18a13b00f4.html|website=The Daily Journal|location=California|title=San Francisco International Airport post office permanently closes|author-first1=Corey|author-last1=Browning|date=31 March 2022|access-date=24 April 2025|url-status=live|archive-date=23 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423154653/https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/san-francisco-international-airport-post-office-permanently-closes/article_73772dda-b0aa-11ec-835a-2f18a13b00f4.html|quote=The San Francisco Air Mail Center — the post office within the San Francisco International Airport — will close for good Thursday following the non-renewal of the site’s lease by the airport.}}</ref>

===On-Site Hotel===
{{distinguish|Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport}}
In October 2019, [[Hyatt Hotels]] opened a 351-room Grand Hyatt-branded hotel next to International Garage A and connected to the terminals via AirTrain.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Hyatt and San Francisco International Airport Proudly Announce Opening of Grand Hyatt at SFO {{!}} San Francisco International Airport | url=https://www.flysfo.com/media/press-releases/hyatt-and-san-francisco-international-airport-proudly-announce-opening-grand | access-date=2025-08-21 | website=www.flysfo.com}}</ref>

===Wag Brigade===
On December 3, 2013, SFO launched a "Wag Brigade" program to bring a pack of trained therapy dogs to the terminals to calm nervous fliers and make passenger travel more enjoyable. In 2016, Lilou, a [[Juliana (pig)|Juliana-breed]] therapy pig joined the Wag Brigade. Carefully selected for their temperament and airport suitability, the comfort canines wear vests that read "Pet Me!" which identify them.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flysfo.com/passengers/services-amenities/wag-brigade |title=Meet the Wag Brigade |publisher=San Francisco International Airport |access-date=2023-03-07}}</ref>

==Accidents and incidents==
* On February 9, 1937, a United Airlines Douglas DC-3A-197<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19370209-0 |title=ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-3A-197 NC16073 San Francisco International Airport, CA (SFO) |website=Aviation Safety Network |date=February 9, 1937 |access-date=July 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528163640/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19370209-0 |archive-date=May 28, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> transport liner circled the airport, then crashed into the bay, killing 11 people.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Major-SFO-crashes-4650628.php | title=Major SFO crashes | work=SFGate | date=July 6, 2013 | access-date=July 14, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713135954/http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Major-SFO-crashes-4650628.php | archive-date=July 13, 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref>
* On September 12, 1951, United Airlines Flight 7030<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19510912-1 |title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 377 Stratocruiser 10–34 N31230 Redwood City, CA |website=Aviation Safety Network |date=September 12, 1951 |access-date=July 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226133958/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19510912-1 |archive-date=February 26, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> plunged into the bay during a training exercise killing all three crew members.
* On April 20, 1953, [[Western Airlines Flight 636]], a [[Douglas DC-6]] on a scheduled evening crossbay flight to [[Oakland International Airport]], crashed three minutes after departing SFO into [[San Francisco Bay]]. There were eight fatalities (4 crew, 4 passengers) of the 10 occupants on board.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19530420-0|title=N91303|wikibase=no}}</ref>
* On October 29, 1953, [[BCPA Flight 304|British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines flight 304]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19531029-0 |title=ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-6 VH-BPE Half Moon Bay, CA |website=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=July 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023175203/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19531029-0 |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> a [[Douglas DC-6]] en route from [[Sydney]], Australia, with fuel stops in [[Auckland]], New Zealand, [[Fiji]], and [[Honolulu]], crashed on approach to SFO into Kings Mountain in San Mateo County. All 19 passengers and crew members died.
* On February 20, 1959, a Pan American DC-7C<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19590220-0 |title=ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-7C N740PA San Francisco International Airport, CA (SFO) |website=Aviation Safety Network |date=February 20, 1959 |access-date=July 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528033906/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19590220-0 |archive-date=May 28, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> crashed and burned on the runway. The three crew members on board survived.
* On February 3, 1963, Slick Airways Flight 40<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19630203-0 |title=ASN Aircraft accident Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation N9740Z San Francisco International Airport, CA (SFO) |website=Aviation Safety Network |date=February 3, 1963 |access-date=July 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525211141/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19630203-0 |archive-date=May 25, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> crashed and burned after striking approach lights on runway 28R, killing the four people on board.
* On December 24, 1964, [[Flying Tiger Line Flight 282]], a Lockheed Constellation cargo aircraft departing for [[New York City]], crashed in the hills west of the airport, killing all three crew members on board.<ref name="FTL282">{{cite web |title=ASN Aircraft Accident Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation N6915C San Francisco |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19641224-0 |website=Aviation Safety Network |date=December 24, 1964 |access-date=January 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108014201/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19641224-0 |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* On June 28, 1965, [[Pan Am Flight 843]], a [[Boeing 707]], had just departed for [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]], when its #4 engine exploded, causing part of the wing and the engine itself to break off and fall into the streets below. The crew was able to extinguish the ensuing fire and land safely at the nearby [[Travis Air Force Base]].
[[File:JAL flight 2 22-November-1968 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|JAL002 ditched in shallow water short of SFO]]
* On November 22, 1968, [[Japan Air Lines Flight 2]], a [[Douglas DC-8#Super 60 Series|DC-8-62]] named the Shiga (registered as JA8032), crash-landed on final approach at 9:30&nbsp;a.m. on a shallow submerged reef at the eastern tip of Coyote Point (three miles short of the runway southeast of the airport). The plane was on a trip from [[Tokyo]] to [[San Francisco]], after making a stop in [[Honolulu]]. The pilot was experienced but misread the instruments on the DC-8, which was less than a year old. There were 107 people on the plane. There were no deaths or serious injuries. The plane was salvaged by Bigge Drayage Company soon after the crash. All luggage and fuel were removed to cut the weight and the plane was lifted onto a barge and taken to the airport for repairs. The cost of repairs was $4&nbsp;million and the plane re-entered service the following April. The aircraft flew for Japan Air Lines until 1983 and then several air freight companies for 18 years until it was scrapped in December 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/Shiga-SFBay.htm |title=Splashdown of the "Shiga"… |website=Check-Six.com |date=November 22, 1968 }}</ref>
* On July 30, 1971, [[Pan Am Flight 845]], a [[Boeing 747]] (registration: N747PA, name: Clipper America), struck navigational aids at the end of runway 1R on takeoff for Tokyo. The aircraft's landing gear and other systems were damaged. Two passengers were seriously injured by metal components of the runway approach light pier entering the cabin. The flight proceeded out over the Pacific Ocean to dump fuel to reduce weight for an emergency landing. Emergency services were deployed at the airport, and the plane returned and landed on runway 28R. During landing, the aircraft veered off the runway. There was no fire. After coming to a stop, the aircraft slowly tilted aft, coming to rest on its tail in a nose-high attitude. The forward evacuation slides were therefore in a nearly vertical position. Evacuation using these slides caused all of additional injuries, some severe. There were no fatalities among the 218 passengers and crew members aboard. An investigation determined that the cause of the accident was erroneous information from the flight dispatcher to the crew members regarding weight and runway length.<ref name="PAA845">{{cite report |title=Aircraft Accident Report – Pan American World Airways, Boeing 747, N747PA |url=http://www.airdisaster.com/reports/ntsb/AAR72-17.pdf |publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]] |location=Washington, DC |date=May 24, 1972 |access-date=August 3, 2009 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731085638/http://www.airdisaster.com/reports/ntsb/AAR72-17.pdf |archive-date=July 31, 2009 }}</ref>
* On July 5, 1972, [[Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 710]], a [[Boeing 737-200]], was hijacked by two Bulgarian immigrants demanding $800,000 and to be taken to the [[Soviet Union]]. After flying for an hour and landing back at SFO, the plane was stormed by four [[FBI]] agents. Both hijackers were killed along with one passenger. Two other passengers were injured.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19720705-0|wikibase=no}}</ref>
* On September 13, 1972, TWA Flight 604,<ref>{{cite report |title=Aircraft Accident Report – Trans World Airlines, Inc., Boeing 707-331C, N15712 |publisher=National Transportation Safety Board |location=Washington, DC |url=http://libraryonline.erau.edu/online-full-text/ntsb/aircraft-accident-reports/AAR73-04.pdf |date=September 13, 1972 |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233433/http://libraryonline.erau.edu/online-full-text/ntsb/aircraft-accident-reports/AAR73-04.pdf |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> a [[Boeing 707]]-331C cargo plane crashed into the bay on takeoff. All three crew members survived.
* On October 8, 1984, a [[Clay Lacy Aviation]] [[Learjet 24]] crashed shortly after takeoff after descending in a steep left-wing low-nose attitude after entering a broken cloud at 600 feet. All three occupants (two crew, and one occupant) were killed.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19841008-0|title=N864CL|wikibase=no}}</ref>
*On February 19, 1985, [[China Airlines Flight 006]] made an emergency landing at the airport after a fatigued crew mishandled a single engine flameout, eventually leading to a stall and catastrophic dive that nearly led the [[Boeing 747SP]] to hit the ocean.
* On {{dts|1998-06-28}}, [[United Airlines Flight 863]] was forced to shut down an engine just after takeoff, and then nearly collided with San Bruno Mountain due to improper flight procedure. The aircraft returned safely to the airport. In response, United instituted new training procedures for its flight crews.
* In the [[September 11 attacks]] in 2001, [[United Airlines Flight 93]] was destined for San Francisco. It was hijacked by four [[al-Qaeda]] terrorists and diverted towards [[Washington, D.C.]], with the intent of crashing the plane into either [[United States Capitol|The Capitol]] or the [[White House]]. After learning of the previous attacks on the [[World Trade Center (1973-2001)|World Trade Center]] and [[The Pentagon]], the passengers attempted to regain control of the plane. The hijackers subsequently crashed the plane into a field in [[Somerset County, Pennsylvania]], killing everyone on board.
* On {{dts|2007-05-26}}, an arriving [[SkyWest Airlines]] [[Embraer EMB 120]] nearly collided with a [[Republic Airline]] [[Embraer E-Jet family#E170 and E175|Embraer 170 Regional Jet]] at the junction of Runways 01L and 28R. After the SkyWest EMB 120 passed the Runway 28R threshold, the Republic E-170 was cleared for takeoff on 01L, in contradiction to local and FAA orders requiring the arriving aircraft to pass the intersection before clearing departing aircraft on the intersecting runway.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Turboprop-narrowly-misses-hitting-jet-at-SFO-2587895.php |title=Turboprop narrowly misses hitting jet at SFO |author=Lee, Henry K |date=June 11, 2007 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=August 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806101101/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Turboprop-narrowly-misses-hitting-jet-at-SFO-2587895.php |archive-date=August 6, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite report |url=https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20070610X00701&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=IA |title=Aviation Incident OPS07IA004A Final Report |date=November 30, 2007 |publisher=National Transportation Safety Board |access-date=August 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806102802/https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20070610X00701&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=IA |archive-date=August 6, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* On June 28, 2008, an [[ABX Air]] [[Boeing 767]] preparing to depart with cargo caught fire and was seriously damaged. The pilots escaped uninjured. Although the airline had received a threat the week before, investigations revealed no evidence of any malicious device on board, eventually concluding the fire was caused by an electrical system malfunction.<ref name="ABX Cargo Fire">{{cite press release |title=NTSB Issues Update On Boeing 767 Cargo Airplane Fire |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2008/080703.html |publisher=National Transportation Safety Board |date=July 3, 2008 |access-date=August 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903004832/http://ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2008/080703.html |archive-date=September 3, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite report |url=https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20080701X00963&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=MA |title=Aviation Accident DCA08MA076 Final Report |date=March 28, 2010 |publisher=National Transportation Safety Board |access-date=August 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806104332/https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20080701X00963&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=MA |archive-date=August 6, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* On September 22, 2012, a PrimeFlight catering truck accidentally drove into the wing of a parked [[NetJets]] [[Gulfstream V]]. The wing sliced into the cab of the truck, killing the 60-year-old driver.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=20120922-0|title=N511QS|wikibase=no}}</ref>
[[File:NTSBAsiana214Fuselage2.jpg|thumb|right|The wreckage of [[Asiana Airlines Flight 214]] after it crashed while landing on July 6, 2013]]
* On July 6, 2013, [[Asiana Airlines Flight 214]], a [[Boeing 777]]-200ER registered HL7742, crashed while landing. The crash occurred due to a combination of mistakes made by the aircraft's flight crew. The flight crew had selected an incorrect autopilot mode when attempting to descend, followed by placing the thrust levers into "idle", which disabled the autopilot from maintaining speed as the aircraft approached the seawall. Upon descending below the desired flight path, the flight crew should have determined that their speed was too low and attempted a "go-around" and re-attempt to land. However, this decision was not made until the altitude was less than {{convert|100|ft|}}, by which point the aircraft could not accomplish a go-around. The tail section of the aircraft struck the seawall at the end of the runway and became detached from the airframe; the plane ended up {{convert|2000|ft|}} down the runway. Passengers and crew members evacuated before a fire, due to the ignition of engine lubricant, destroyed the aircraft. There were three fatalities, making this the first fatal Boeing 777 crash.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Erin |last1=McClam |first2=Daniel |last2=Arkin |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/boeing-777-crashes-while-landing-san-francisco-airport-2-dead-v19323541 |title=Boeing 777 crashes while landing at San Francisco airport; 2 dead; scores injured |work=[[NBC News]]|publisher=NBCUniversal News Group|location=San Francisco|date=July 6, 2013 |access-date=July 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220062729/http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/boeing-777-crashes-while-landing-san-francisco-airport-2-dead-v19323541 |archive-date=February 20, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite report|title=Crash of Asiana Flight 214 Accident Report Summary|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2014_Asiana_BMG-Abstract.aspx|publisher=National Transportation Safety Board|location=Washington|access-date=December 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206083007/https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2014_Asiana_BMG-Abstract.aspx|archive-date=December 6, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On July 7, 2017, [[Air Canada Flight 759]], an [[Airbus A320|Airbus A320-200]], from [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto Pearson]] was instructed by air traffic control to go around after overflying Taxiway C for 0.25 miles (400 m) while on visual approach for 28R. The A320 overflew the first two aircraft lined up on Taxiway C by roughly 100 feet (30 m). The pilots landed the aircraft afterward without incident. A total of three wide-body aircraft and one narrow-body aircraft were lined up awaiting takeoff on Taxiway C. The NTSB launched an investigation into the incident,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/air-canada-jet-in-close-call-at-san-francisco-airport/article35652754/ |title=Investigators probing close call with Air Canada jet at San Francisco airport |author=Paola Loriggio|date=July 11, 2017 |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |agency=The Canadian Press|location=San Francisco|access-date=July 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712050936/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/air-canada-jet-in-close-call-at-san-francisco-airport/article35652754/ |archive-date=July 12, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Hradecky|first1=Simon|title=Incident: Canada A320 at San Francisco on Jul 7th 2017, lined up with taxiway for landing|url=http://avherald.com/h?article=4ab79f58&opt=0|access-date=July 15, 2017|publisher=The Aviation Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811060532/http://avherald.com/h?article=4ab79f58&opt=0|archive-date=August 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> publishing the final report in September 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AIR1801.pdf |title=Taxiway Overflight Air Canada Flight 759 Airbus A320-211, C-FKCK San Francisco, California, July 7 2017 |publisher=National Transportation Safety Board |date=September 25, 2018 |access-date=February 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225094451/https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AIR1801.pdf |archive-date=February 25, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* On October 22, 2017, [[Air Canada]] Flight 781, another [[Airbus|Airbus A320-200]], from [[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport|Montreal]] landed on Runway 28R after being instructed by the ATC six times to go around, without any response from the pilots. Upon landing the crew reported they had radio problems in the cockpit, but a later FAA investigation found that the crew inadvertently switched from the SFO tower frequency to the SFO ground frequency after receiving their landing clearance.<ref>{{cite web |last1=GAFNI |first1=Matthias |title=Wrong radio frequency. Wrong runway. FAA releases findings of SFO close-call investigations. |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/05/02/wrong-radio-frequency-wrong-runway-faa-releases-findings-of-sfo-close-call-investigations/ |website=The Mercury News |publisher=Bay Area News Group |access-date=10 January 2023 |date=2 May 2018}}</ref>
* On March 7, 2024, a [[Boeing 777-200ER]] of [[United Airlines]], registration N226UA, was climbing out of runway 28R bound for [[Kansai International Airport|Osaka, Japan]], when one of the six wheels on the left main gear truck detached and fell in a parking lot, damaging three cars. The aircraft landed safely at [[Los Angeles Airport]] with no casualties. An airfield safety employee was injured while clearing debris.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://avherald.com/h?article=515e1b7b |title=Accident: United B772 at San Francisco on Mar 7th 2024, dropped main wheel on departure |publisher=The Aviation Herald}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area|Aviation}}
* [[California World War II Army Airfields]]
* [[List of airports in California]]
* [[Transportation in the San Francisco Bay Area]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons|San Francisco International Airport}}
{{wikivoyage}}
* [http://www.flysfo.com/ San Francisco International Airport website]
* [http://sforoundtable.org/ San Francisco International Airport Community Roundtable Homepage]
* [https://www.flysfo.com/community/noise-abatement/live-flight-tracking San Francisco International Airport Live Flight Track] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403234804/https://www.flysfo.com/community/noise-abatement/live-flight-tracking |date=April 3, 2018 }} (ten-minute delay)
* [http://www.flyquietsfo.com/ San Francisco International Airport Aircraft Noise Abatement Office]
* [http://www.protectourbay.com/level2/oversch.html Overscheduling at SFO] dead link, archived at [https://web.archive.org/web/20160124232606/http://protectourbay.com/level2/oversch.html Overscheduling]
* {{FAA-diagram|00375}}
* {{FAA-procedures|SFO}}
{{US-airport|SFO}}
* The [https://livingnewdeal.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/aerial.10002-683x800.jpg aerial view c. 1940] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525172324/https://livingnewdeal.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/aerial.10002-683x800.jpg |date=May 25, 2017 }} looks west along the runway that is now 28R; the seaplane harbor at right is still recognizable north of the airport. [http://livingnewdeal.berkeley.edu/lndp-content/uploads/2011/03/aerial.10004.jpg Earlier aerial looking NW] [http://ucblibrary3.berkeley.edu:8085/AerialPhotos/airphotoddb/DDB2B-118.jpg 1943 vertical aerial (enlargeable)].

{{Airports in the San Francisco Bay Area}}
{{Major US Airports}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:San Francisco International Airport| ]]
[[Category:Airports in San Mateo County, California]]
[[Category:Transportation in the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces Air Transport Command in North America]]
[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in California]]
[[Category:Airports established in 1927]]
[[Category:Government of San Francisco]]
[[Category:1927 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Dianne Feinstein]]