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

San Francisco International Airport

Compiled by Bill Gao

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

How ranks work →

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 of 63 in US

#78 of 2020 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+18.7%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 SFO in numbers: 11,870 ft longest runway · #211 of 650 published · #335 of 7,558 worldwide (top 4.4%) · #26 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

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft

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Elevation & National Context

Lowland Aerodrome (<2,000 ft)

SFO lies at 4 m (13 ft), #613 of 650 published airports by elevation and 5.8 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 594 ft below the United States median (607 ft, 63 airports); COS is highest at 6,187 ft, 6,174 ft higher than SFO.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

2 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

Closest of 2 paved-runway (≥5,000 ft) neighbours within 100 NM: Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK), 9.5 NM, 10,520 ft. Next: SJC 26.3 NM. SFO has the longest runway in this radius, 870 ft over SJC.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

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

SFO runways: 10L/28R 11,870 × 200 ft asphalt (asp); 10R/28L 11,381 × 200 ft asphalt (asp); 1R/19L 8,660 × 200 ft asphalt (asp); 1L/19R 7,650 × 200 ft asphalt (asp). National standing: #26 of 63 in United States; DEN leads by 4,130 ft (16,000 ft). +18.7% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
10L/28R	11,870 ft (3618 m / 3.618 km)	200 ft (61m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
10R/28L	11,381 ft (3469 m / 3.469 km)	200 ft (61m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
1R/19L	8,660 ft (2640 m / 2.640 km)	200 ft (61m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
1L/19R	7,650 ft (2332 m / 2.332 km)	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

🛡️ Source: OurAirports Open Aviation Database, snapshot 2026-09-01 · Provenance →