The San Francisco International Airport

The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the tenth largest airport in the United States, the biggest airport in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the second largest airport in the state of California (after the Los Angeles International Airport). SFO is located 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco and next to San Bruno and Millbrae. In 2008, the Airports Council International ranked San Francisco International Airport as the 21st busiest airport in the world. SFO served a total of 37,405,467 passengers that year. The airport is also the central hub for Virgin America and one of the biggest hubs of both United Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

SFO opened in 1927. It was originally named the Mills Field Municipal Airport, after Ogden L. Mills, the man from whom the city of San Francisco leased the 150 acres upon which the airport was built. In 1931, the airport was renamed the San Francisco Municipal Airport. During World War II, the U.S. military took over the Oakland International Airport, displacing its civilian passengers and thus giving a boost in passenger traffic to the San Francisco Municipal. In 1955, the San Francisco Municipal Airport was renamed the San Francisco International Airport.

Ground Transportation
Passengers in the airport can get from one terminal to another and to the parking garages, car rental center and BART station by using the airport’s fully automated people-mover system, the AirTrain.

People traveling by car can park at the San Francisco Airport parking facilities, which provide short-term and long-term parking. They can also park in one of the nearby BART stations, which also provide long-term parking. Bus routes take passengers to the various terminals from surrounding San Francisco areas and the Peninsula. The San Francisco International Airport BART station connects the airport almost all the different sections of the greater SF Bay Area.

Amenities
The amenities at SFO include fast-food and sit-down restaurants, shopping, baggage storage centers, public showers, free Wi-Fi, passenger assistance and a medical clinic. There is also an aviation library and an aviation museum, as well as various art exhibits throughout the different 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. Look for those SFO long term parking discounts to save yourself a little money.