San Francisco International (KSFO), California
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
San Francisco International Airport, KSFO, sits on the San Francisco Bay shoreline roughly 8.42 nautical miles from the metro core, serving as a major gateway for the Bay Area at 13 feet elevation. The field is towered and operates around the clock, with four paved runways, on-site CBP inspection services, and a USDA compliance agreement supporting international arrivals. Fuel is available in 100LL, Jet A, and A++ grades, and the airport's ops tier 1 status reflects both its traffic volume and the depth of operational documentation on file.
Runways
San Francisco International has four paved runways. The longest, 10L/28R, is 11,870 ft long and 200 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
San Francisco International has Jet A, 100LL and A++ available on the field. Fueling is available 24 hours a day, every day, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
San Francisco International has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals. A USDA compliance agreement is in place.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
San Francisco International recorded 24,026 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in January, September and October. Business aviation traffic at KSFO is concentrated in specific months, with January, September, and October showing notably higher operation counts than the mid-summer months.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month January, 2,257 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
San Francisco International averages 1.6 days above 90°F in September and 0.1 freeze days in December. September is the warmest month, with average highs of 74.8°F, and January the coldest, at 58.0°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
San Francisco International has published operating constraints in seven categories: access, runway notes, emergency arresting systems, noise procedures, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
The approach is blocked by a blast fence and a localizer antenna.
Personnel and equipment working indefinitely near the approach ends of runways 28L, 28R, and 19L.
Runway 1L is closed to departing trijet aircraft with a wingspan greater than 155 feet.
Taxiway S between taxiway Z and taxiway S2 is closed to aircraft with a wingspan over 215 feet.
The approach ratio is 28:1 to the displaced threshold.
The high-speed taxiway (T) is grooved full width between runway 28R and runway 28L.
Several runway hold position signs are located on the right side of the taxiways rather than the left.
Runway 10 is the preferred runway between 0100 and 0600, weather and flight conditions permitting.
Simultaneous operations are in effect on all runways.
Runway status lights are in operation.
Due to obstructed vision, SFO tower is able to provide only limited airport traffic control service on taxiway A between gates F20 and F21.
An Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS), 413 feet long by 227 feet wide, is located at the departure end of runway 1L.
An Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS), 409 feet long by 227 feet wide, is located at the departure end of runway 1R.
An Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS), 373 feet long by 227 feet wide, is located at the departure end of runway 19L.
An Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS), 437 feet long by 227 feet wide, is located at the departure end of runway 19R.
This is a noise-sensitive airport; for noise abatement procedures, contact the airport noise office, Monday through Friday, 0800 to 1700.
Flocks of birds feed along the shoreline adjacent to the airport and, on occasion, fly across various parts of the airport.
PCR VALUE: 956/F/C/W/T
PCR VALUE: 986/F/C/W/T
PCR VALUE: 918/F/C/W/T
PCR VALUE: 866/F/B/W/T
Airline pilots must strictly follow the painted nose gear lines, and no oversteering adjustment is permitted.
On all outbound taxiway Zulu 2 routes, heavy aircraft with a wingspan of 171 feet or greater are prohibited from entering the westbound portion of taxiway Zulu under power.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
San Francisco International has five airfields within 16 NM. The closest is Half Moon Bay (KHAF), 8.71 NM southwest.
Part of the San Francisco Bay Area area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KSFO
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$2,400.00 catering order at KSFO.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the busiest runway configuration at KSFO?
San Francisco International operates four parallel-oriented paved runways, with the two longest, 10L/28R and 10R/28L, reaching 11,870 feet and 11,381 feet respectively. The airfield also includes 01R/19L at 8,650 feet and 01L/19R at 7,650 feet. All runways are asphalt and rated for simultaneous operations. Runway 10 is the preferred configuration between 0100 and 0600 local, weather and flight conditions permitting. Dispatchers planning heavy traffic periods should account for this preference when sequencing arrivals and departures at KSFO.
Does KSFO have EMAS installed, and where?
Yes, San Francisco International has Engineered Materials Arresting System beds installed at four runway departure ends. The EMAS beds measure 413 feet by 227 feet at the DER for runway 1L, 409 by 227 feet at 1R, 373 by 227 feet at 19L, and 437 by 227 feet at 19R. These systems are designed to arrest aircraft that overrun the runway end. Flight planners at KSFO should note these installations exist on both ends of the 01L/19R and 01R/19L runway pairs.
Are there wingspan restrictions on taxiways or runways at KSFO?
San Francisco International has several wingspan-based restrictions that affect larger aircraft. Outbound taxiway Zulu 2 prohibits heavy aircraft with a wingspan of 171 feet or greater from entering the westbound portion of taxiway Zulu under power. Taxiway S between taxiway Z and taxiway S2 is closed to aircraft with a wingspan over 215 feet. Separately, runway 1L is closed to departing trijet aircraft with a wingspan greater than 155 feet. Operators of large-wingspan aircraft at KSFO should confirm routing compatibility before filing ground movement plans.
Is customs available on-site at San Francisco International Airport?
Yes, San Francisco International Airport, KSFO, has CBP inspection services available on-site along with a USDA compliance agreement. This allows international arrivals to clear customs directly at the airport rather than diverting to a nearby facility. The airport also holds a 2025 ops tier 1 classification, reflecting its status as one of the most heavily trafficked and best-documented terminals for FAA reporting purposes. Business aviation dispatchers can plan international operations into KSFO with on-site clearance in mind, though procedures should be confirmed against current CBP and USDA requirements.
How does business aviation traffic at KSFO vary through the year?
Business aviation operations at San Francisco International show a concentrated pattern rather than an even spread across the year, based on FAA TFMSC 2025 data. January recorded 2,257 business aviation operations, the highest single month, while July and June were lower at 1,796 and 1,815 respectively. September and October also showed elevated counts at 2,242 and 2,223. Total annual business aviation operations at KSFO reached 24,026 against 411,631 total annual operations. Dispatchers scheduling flights into KSFO should anticipate this uneven monthly distribution when estimating slot availability.