San Francisco International Airport

What San Francisco International Airport does

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a public international gateway owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco through its Airport Commission. Founded in 1927 and headquartered in San Mateo County, California, SFO served more than 54 million passengers in 2025 across five passenger terminals — Harvey Milk Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the Dianne Feinstein International Terminal complex (A and G). The airport serves 80+ domestic nonstop destinations on 10 carriers and 40+ international nonstop destinations across Asia (16), Europe and the Middle East (17), and the South Pacific and Oceania (8), positioning it as a leading transpacific gateway with United Airlines, Air Canada, and American Airlines as major operational bases.

Name

San Francisco International Airport

Legal name

City and County of San Francisco, acting by and through the Airport Commission

Website

https://flysfo.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Airport Operations and Passenger Services

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Other Airport Operations (488119)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation Infrastructure Agencies (Public Airports, Airfield Ops, Ground Access) (BPAIALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Security Operations Center (SOC) / Airport Security Command & Control (BPAKAMAG), Airport Ground Transport Terminals (Rail/Bus/Coach) (THAIALAG)

Keywords

• Airport operations
• Passenger terminal services
• Air cargo handling
• Ground transportation
• Parking services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Aeronautical Revenue: Revenue from airline operations including landing fees, gate rentals, and terminal fees charged to airlines operating at the airport.
2. Non-Aeronautical Revenue: Revenue from concessions (dining, retail), parking facilities, ground transportation, and commercial services. Airport modernization efforts focus on driving non-aeronautical revenue through improved passenger experience.
3. Parking Revenue: Revenue from multiple parking facilities including domestic/hourly parking ($39 max per 24 hours), long-term parking ($27 max per 24 hours), and valet services. EV charging infrastructure at parking facilities generates additional revenue.
4. Concession Revenue: Revenue share from 80+ retail shops and 82+ dining establishments operating across terminals including Harvey Milk Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and International Terminals A and G.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) operates a major international gateway serving over 54 million passengers annually across five passenger terminals, providing airline landing/gate services, passenger amenities, parking, retail and dining concessions, cargo handling, and ground transportation. The airport generates revenue from aeronautical fees charged to airlines, non-aeronautical fees from concessions and parking, and operates advanced technology platforms including a digital twin operations system, facial recognition screening, autonomous ride services, and an energy management control system.

Product overview

San Francisco International Airport operates as a major international gateway serving over 54 million passengers annually, consisting of five passenger terminals (Harvey Milk Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, Dianne Feinstein International Terminal A, and Dianne Feinstein International Terminal G). The airport provides comprehensive passenger services including ground transportation via AirTrain, parking facilities, expedited travel programs (TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, CLEAR), free Wi-Fi, and concierge services. SFO has implemented advanced technology platforms including a digital twin system for real-time operational monitoring and an Energy Management Control System for sustainability. The airport also offers autonomous vehicle service through Waymo, remote bag check capabilities, and extensive dining and retail options across all terminals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Harvey Milk Terminal 1: Terminal 1 at SFO, recognized for sustainable design with 79% reduction in carbon emissions and 59% decrease in energy use, winner of the 2025 Prix Versailles World Title in Aviation category.
• Dianne Feinstein International Terminal
• Terminal 2
• Terminal 3
• AirTrain
• Grand Hyatt at SFO

Quantifiable outcome

• Served 54 million+ passengers in 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lödige IndustriescoreTechnology or Integration · 23 June 2026Lödige Industries has been contracted to equip SFO's new 310,000 square-foot automated air cargo terminal with automated storage, retrieval, and high-throughput cargo handling technology. The facility will include three Elevating Transfer Vehicles operating on a rail-guided system, scheduled for completion in spring 2028 with operations beginning later that year.
• EsricoreTechnology or Integration · 23 April 2026SFO implemented a digital twin system developed in coordination with Esri to track airport operations and passenger movement in real-time. The system integrates geospatial data from over 600,000 static infrastructure features and multiple third-party sources including airlines, FAA, and FlightAware, enabling monitoring of flights, gate availability, passenger congestion, and 18 million square feet of interior building space.
• U.S. Customs and Border ProtectioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026U.S. Customs and Border Protection is operating SFO's pilot program testing automated facial recognition cameras to verify Global Entry members' identity. The system replaces the need for passengers to stop at kiosks, creating a more continuous flow through the entry process. The pilot runs through September 2026.
• WaymocoreTechnology or Integration · 29 January 2026SFO approved Waymo to begin a fully autonomous taxi service for passenger trips to and from the airport starting January 29, 2026, completing a three-phase pilot program. The service enables paid, for-hire autonomous services for eligible Waymo customers at the Rental Car Center Level 1 curbside, representing one of the most requested features for riders.
• UC Berkeley Law's Center for Law, Energy & the EnvironmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2025SFO co-chaired an Aviation Working Group with UC Berkeley Law's Center for Law, Energy & the Environment and RMI for the federally funded ARCHES public-private partnership. The group developed a white paper on hydrogen's role in California aviation, identifying barriers including high production costs, limited infrastructure, and lack of consistent safety standards.
• RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2025SFO co-chaired an Aviation Working Group with RMI and UC Berkeley Law's Center for Law, Energy & the Environment for the federally funded ARCHES public-private partnership, developing a white paper on hydrogen's role in California aviation.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Peers

• Miami International Airport (MIA):

Direct peers

• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW): DFW is operated by a joint municipal airport board serving Dallas and Fort Worth, with American Airlines as its dominant hub carrier. Comparable to SFO in scale, terminal-modernization activity, cargo capability, and use of public-private governance structures.
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL): ATL is operated by the City of Atlanta's Department of Aviation and is the busiest U.S. airport by passenger volume. Comparable to SFO as a publicly operated mega-hub with dominant carrier (Delta) dependency, large concession programs, and ongoing capital expansion.
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): JFK is operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and is the largest U.S. trans-Atlantic gateway with significant Asia routes. Like SFO, JFK serves as an international long-haul hub for multiple legacy carriers and is undergoing major capital modernization of terminals and cargo facilities.
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): LAX is the most direct peer to SFO: another large West Coast international gateway operated by a municipal authority (Los Angeles World Airports), with comparable passenger volumes, Asia-Pacific and Europe route networks, and a comparable cargo and concession revenue mix. Both airports compete for trans-Pacific traffic and corporate/luxury retail tenants.
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR): Also operated by the Port Authority of NY/NJ, EWR serves as a major United Airlines hub with substantial trans-Atlantic and domestic traffic. Comparable operating model to SFO as a publicly operated international gateway anchored by a single dominant carrier.
• Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD): ORD is operated by the Chicago Department of Aviation as a major international gateway and United Airlines hub. Comparable to SFO in scale, multi-carrier service mix, terminal modernization scope, and capacity-driven capital programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/flySFO
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SFOIntlAirport
• Facebookfacebook.com/flySFO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/san-francisco-international-airport
• Instagraminstagram.com/flysfo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about San Francisco International Airport