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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco, California (United States)

IATA: SFO ICAO: KSFO

Longest Active Runway

11,870 ft

3,618 meters

Field Elevation

13 ft

4 m MSL

Runway Inventory

4 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

37.6198°, -122.3748°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#211 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#335 of 7558

Top 4.4% percentile worldwide

National Standing (United States)

#26 in US

#78 of 2020 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+18.7%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: San Francisco International Airport's longest active runway measures 11,870 ft (3,618 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #211. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #335 worldwide (Top 4.4%) and #26 nationally in United States.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

San Francisco International Airport is a masterclass in high-density airfield operations within an environmentally sensitive bayfront footprint. The airport's 28L/28R parallel pair handles the majority of arrivals and departures under prevailing Pacific westerly winds. However, when marine stratus rolls through the Golden Gate, FAA visual approach separations are suspended, throttling landing rates and triggering nationwide ground delay programs.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Two pairs of intersecting parallel runways: 28L/28R (11,381 ft and 11,870 ft) intersecting 01L/01R (8,650 ft and 7,650 ft).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Opened in 1927 as Mills Field on reclaimed San Francisco Bay salt marshes. Developed the landmark Central Passenger Terminal in 1954 and modern International Terminal in 2000, followed by the recent Harvey Milk Terminal 1 redevelopment.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Handles the predominant share of Bay Area international widebody traffic, while Oakland (OAK) handles domestic low-cost/cargo and San Jose (SJC) serves Silicon Valley point-to-point routes.

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Runways 28L and 28R are separated by only 750 ft centerline-to-centerline, prohibiting simultaneous parallel instrument landings during morning coastal fog and low ceiling events.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) · FAA Form 5010-1 Airport Master Record & NFDC Surveyed Aeronautical Data · AirNav SFO Master Record ↗

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Comparative aviation metrics evaluated against regional and global physical operational criteria.

ICAO Code 4E / 4F Super-Heavy

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Elevation & Atmospheric Density

Lowland / Coastal Basin Aerodrome

San Francisco International Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 13 ft (4 m MSL) in San Francisco. Situated in low-lying coastal terrain, the aerodrome benefits from dense ambient atmospheric pressure, maximizing turbine engine thrust and wing lift efficiency across all departure vectors.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

2 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

Handles the predominant share of Bay Area international widebody traffic, while Oakland (OAK) handles domestic low-cost/cargo and San Jose (SJC) serves Silicon Valley point-to-point routes. Within a 100 NM radius, the facility coordinates airspace flows with 2 qualifying commercial aerodromes, with Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK) located 9.5 NM away.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 11,870 ft (3,618 m)

San Francisco International Airport's active flight strips comprise 10L/28R (11,870 ft), 10R/28L (11,381 ft), 1R/19L (8,660 ft), 1L/19R (7,650 ft). With a longest active threshold of 11,870 ft (3,618 m), the aerodrome satisfies unrestricted long-haul takeoff and landing distance requirements for heavy twin-aisle and four-engine widebodies (ICAO Code 4E/4F).

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
10L/28R	11,870 ft (3618m)	200 ft (61m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
10R/28L	11,381 ft (3469m)	200 ft (61m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
1R/19L	8,660 ft (2640m)	200 ft (61m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
1L/19R	7,650 ft (2332m)	200 ft (61m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name	IATA	Distance	Longest Runway	Lighting
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (Oakland)	`OAK`	9.5 NM (17.6 km)	10,520 ft	✅ Lighted
Mineta San Jose International Airport (San Jose)	`SJC`	26.3 NM (48.7 km)	11,000 ft	✅ Lighted

🛡️ Data Provenance & Verification Metadata

Source Dataset: OurAirports Open Aviation Database

Snapshot Version: 2026-09-01

Dataset Integrity: Cryptographic SHA-256 Checksum Verified & Fail-Closed Schema Inspected

Source Verification: Source-reported registry data

Read Complete Methodology & Verification Protocol → GET /api/airport/sfo.json ↗