San Francisco airport prepares for summer travel season

The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) showcased the beginning of the summer travel season by providing advice for passengers, details on parking, recently finished facilities, and a schedule of live music in the terminals.

The summer travel season will start on Friday, May 24, 2024, with about 147,000 predicted passengers traveling through SFO. Altogether, 15.5 million travellers are anticipated at SFO from Memorial Day to Labor Day, equivalent to around 86 per cent of summer travel levels before the pandemic.

SFO suggests that travellers should allocate additional time. Passengers travelling in the summer season are advised to reach the airport at least 2 hours before their domestic flight and 3 hours before their international flight.

The parking garages are expected to be full, so it is advisable to book in advance.

SFO anticipates that parking garages will be full or nearly full during the summer travel season. SFO suggests that travellers use public transportation or carpool to the airport. Regarding parking, the Airport suggests that travelers reserve parking in advance through SFO’s online booking system. This system enables users to select their parking dates and times, as well as input payment details to finalise a booking ahead of time.

The closure of the runway for the construction project will continue until July 1st, and delays are possible.

The closure of Runway 28 Left for a taxiway improvement project is expected to finish by July 1st. Airlines have already decreased the number of flights to adjust to the closure. However, SFO informs travellers that delays may occur until the runway is reopened by July 1st.

The final phase of Harvey Milk Terminal 1 will open on June 11th, and Alaska Airlines will be moving in.

The final phase of the Harvey Milk Terminal 1, which cost USD 2.4 billion, is set to open on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. It will include a new check-in area, a mezzanine-level security checkpoint that can be easily reached from the AirTrain system, two additional gates, five new concessions, a common-use lounge, a museum gallery, and a connecting walkway that links all SFO terminals post-security.

Alaska Airlines plans to transfer its entire operation, such as the check-in ticket counter, gates, and baggage services, from Terminal 2 to Harvey Milk Terminal 1 by the end of June. Alaska will be situated close to American Airlines and other Oneworld member airlines, offering convenience to guests with connecting domestic and international flights.

The new lobby of Alaska will feature advanced technology to help guests navigate the check-in process more efficiently, providing them with extra time to unwind in the new lounge (which will also open this summer) and enjoy the new amenities in Harvey Milk Terminal 1.


The Terminal 3 West project has started, and United will be operating additional flights in Terminal 2.

In July, San Francisco International Airport will officially start the USD 2.5 billion Terminal 3 West Modernization project. This project aims to upgrade the current 500,000-square-foot western section of Terminal 3 with enhancements such as a seismic retrofit, an expanded security checkpoint, and new passenger amenities.

Additionally, the project will generate an extra 250,000 square feet of space, enabling the expansion of food, beverage, and retail options. Throughout this project, United Airlines will increase its flight operations in Terminal 2, while temporary walkways will be introduced to guide passengers around the construction zone.

The experiential series brings events from San Francisco to travellers at the airport.

SFO's experiential series brings the neighbourhoods and cultural events of San Francisco directly to airport guests. The “SFO Celebrates” program features live performances, music, demonstrations and arts & crafts. To learn more about the upcoming events.