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San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

San Francisco, California KSFO #10 US airport by passengers

On the western shore of San Francisco Bay, about 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco, in San Mateo County.

FAA status
Ground delay program Updated 1 min ago
Weather now
MVFR 59°F Observed 5 h ago
Late departures
34.2%May 2026 to July 2026
Security line
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SFO at a glance

SFO sits on a narrow strip of land with two pairs of closely spaced runways that cross each other. The practical effect is that in low cloud or fog, the airport can only land about half as many planes per hour as in clear weather, and that is the single biggest driver of delay.

The airport is easy to use for visitors, especially if you are going into San Francisco: BART trains stop right in the International Terminal and run directly to downtown. The AirTrain connects the terminals and garages.

Main airlines: United Airlines operates its main West Coast hub here. Alaska, Delta, American and many Asian and European airlines also fly to SFO.

FAA delay status for SFO

  • Ground delay program low ceilings Average 29 minutes, maximum 1 hour and 46 minutes

Source: FAA National Airspace System Status, checked 1 min ago. Airline-specific delays are not shown here.

Current conditions at SFO

MVFR

59°F15°C

Marginal: lower cloud or reduced visibility. Some delays are possible.

Wind
270° 10 mph
Visibility
10+ mi
Clouds
FEW 400 ft, BKN 1,500 ft
Ceiling
1,500 ft
Pressure
29.69 inHg

METARSPECI KSFO 101216Z 27009KT 10SM FEW004 BKN015 15/12 A2969 RMK AO2 T01500122 $

Source: NOAA Aviation Weather Center. Observed 5 h ago.

Active weather alerts

  • Coastal Flood AdvisoryCoastal Flood Advisory issued October 9 at 3:16PM PDT until October 13 at 3:00PM PDT by NWS San Francisco CA

Full weather, TAF, forecast and runways →

On-time performance at SFO

Based on 40,370 departures from May 2026 to July 2026. A flight counts as late when it leaves 15 or more minutes after schedule.

34.2%Departures late
47.5%Arrivals late
0.93%Cancelled
23.9 minAverage departure delay
On-time performance by airline at SFO
AirlineDeparturesLateCancelled
United Airlines 17,252 28.0% 0.32%
SkyWest Airlines 7,638 38.5% 0.88%
Delta Air Lines 3,819 34.3% 1.23%
American Airlines 3,430 34.4% 1.92%
Alaska Airlines 2,986 29.2% 0.87%
Southwest Airlines 2,822 61.1% 1.06%

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, On-Time Performance of reporting carriers. Smaller regional carriers and some airlines are not included.

Late departures by month

AprMayJunJul

Terminals

Terminal 1 (Harvey Milk Terminal)

Recently rebuilt. Serves several domestic airlines; check your ticket or the airport website for your airline.

Terminal 2

Serves several domestic airlines; check your ticket or the airport website for your airline.

Terminal 3

United Airlines is the main user, along with some partner airlines.

International Terminal (Boarding Areas A and G)

Most international flights, including United's international departures from Boarding Area G. BART connects directly to this terminal.

Moving between terminals

AirTrain runs on two loops (Blue and Red) that connect all terminals, garages, the rental car center and the BART station. It is free. Inside security, you can walk between some of the terminals, but the International Terminal and the domestic terminals are separate for security purposes.

Terminal guide →

Getting to and from SFO

  • Rail

    BART

    The BART station is inside the International Terminal. Trains run directly to downtown San Francisco and the East Bay. Check BART for the current route and schedule.

  • Rail

    Caltrain (via BART)

    Transfer at Millbrae Station for Caltrain service along the Peninsula.

  • Bus

    SamTrans

    Local buses serve the airport and the Peninsula.

  • Rideshare and taxi

    Designated pick-up areas

    Rideshare and taxis load at specific areas near each terminal. Use the signs.

All ground transportation →

Tips for SFO

  • Fog and low cloud, mostly in summer mornings, reduce arrival rates and cause delays. Afternoon departures are often more reliable.
  • The International Terminal and BART station are connected, which makes international arrivals easy to link to downtown.
  • Leave extra time to move between terminals if you change from a domestic to an international flight; you may need to re-clear security.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from SFO to downtown San Francisco?

BART runs directly to downtown from the International Terminal. A taxi or rideshare takes about 20 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.

Why are there so many fog delays?

The two parallel runway pairs are closely spaced, so in low cloud the airport can use only one at a time for landing.

Which terminal is United at?

Terminal 3 for domestic, and the International Terminal (Boarding Area G) for most international flights.

How busy is SFO?

About 26,251,850 passengers boarded flights at San Francisco International Airport in 2025, according to FAA enplanement data. That ranks it number 10 among US airports.

How often are flights late at SFO?

Over May 2026 to July 2026, 34.2% of departures at SFO left 15 or more minutes late, and 0.93% of flights were cancelled (Bureau of Transportation Statistics).

Guide content last reviewed October 8, 2026. Report a correction