an Francisco International Airport is an international airport 13 miles (21 km) south of downtown San Francisco, California, near Millbrae and San Bruno in unincorporated San Mateo County. It has flights to points throughout North America and is a major gateway to Europe and Asia.
SFO is the largest airport in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the second busiest in California, after Los Angeles International Airport. In 2009 it was the tenth busiest in the United States and the twentieth largest airport in the world by passenger count. It is the fifth largest hub of United Airlines. It also serves as Virgin America’s principal base of operations. It is the sole maintenance hub of United Airlines, and houses the Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum.
SAN FRANSISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HISTORY
The airport opened on May 7, 1927 on 150 acres (61 ha) of cow pasture. The land was leased from Ogden L. Mills who had leased it from his grandfather Darius O. Mills. It was named Mills Field Municipal Airport until 1931, when it became San Francisco Municipal Airport. “Municipal” was replaced by “International” in 1955.
United Airlines used Mills Field as well as the Oakland Municipal Airport starting in the 1930s. The March 1939 Official Aviation Guide shows 18 airline departures on weekdays— seventeen United and one TWA. The aerial view c. 1940 looks west along the runway that is now 28R; the seaplane harbor at right is still recognizable north of the airport. Earlier aerial looking NW 1943 vertical aerial.
After the war United Airlines used the Pan Am terminal 37.6347°N 122.39°W for its DC-6 flights to Hawaii starting in 1947. SFO is now one of five United Airlines hubs and their largest maintenance facility.
SAN FRANSISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LOCATION
SAN FRANSISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FACTS
ICAO/IATA: KSFO/SFO
Lat: 37°37′08″N
Long: 122°22′30″W
Elevation: 13 ft.
Runway length available: 01R/19L 8648×200 ft. :: 01L/19R 7500×200 ft. :: 10R/28L 10602×200 ft. :: 10L/28R 11870×200 ft.
