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SFO Airport Facts

ryan-frank | Jul 29, 2009 |

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The San Francisco International Airport began as the Mills Field Municipal Airport back in 1927, named after Ogden L. Mills, the landowner who leased out the property upon which the airport was built. In 1931, it was renamed the San Francisco Municipal Airport. During World War II it received a boost in passenger traffic when the Oakland International Airport was taken over by the U.S. Military and its passengers were shifted over to the San Francisco Municipal. In 1955, the San Francisco Municipal was renamed once more to its current name, the San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Today, SFO is the largest airport in the San Francisco Bay area and the largest in the State only after the Los Angeles International Airport. SFO is located next to the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae and 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco. It is currently the 10th largest airport in the United States. In 2008, having served a grand total of 37,405,467 passengers, it was named the 21st busiest airport in the world by the Airports Council International. SFO is the central base of operations for Virgin America and a major hub for both United Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

At the airport, passengers can travel between terminals, terminal garages, the car rental center and the San Francisco Airport BART station via the AirTrain, the airport's fully automated people moving system. To get to the airport, passengers can take the BART (the Bay Area's railway system) directly to the Parking Garage G of the International Terminal. There are also bus routes that connect to Terminal 2, Terminal 3 and the International Terminal.

For people who are arriving by car, the San Francisco Airport parking facilities provide short-term and long-term parking. People can also park in one of the BART stations near the airport, which have long-term parking available when you buy a permit online.

SFO's amenities include restaurants (sit-down and fast food), bars, shopping centers, baggage storage facilities, public showers, free public Wi-Fi, passenger assistance services and a medical clinic. Visitors waiting for their departure times can enjoy the Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, the Airport Commission Aviation Library and the various art exhibits throughout the terminals.

If you are taking flight out and need a place to keep your vehicle, remember that airport parking in San Francisco has numerous places to carefully take care of your car while away.