San Francisco SFO Airport
Described as the ‘gateway to the Pacific’, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is one of the major entry and departure points for passengers coming from or going to Asia. It repeatedly ranks among the top 30 busiest airports worldwide and was the first major airport in the USA to fully automate an integrated baggage system.
Just over 37 million passengers passed through the airport in 2009 with 77% of those domestic travellers. Asia accounted for almost half of all international flight destinations, although airports in Canada were the top international location, followed closely by those in China and Japan. The top three destinations within the USA were those in Los Angeles, then Chicago’s airports and those from New York the third most popular destination.
San Francisco International Airport was originally known as Mills Field Municipal Airport when it opened back in 1927. It was renamed San Francisco Municipal Airport in 1931 and was used by Pan American Airways for cross-Pacific flight in that decade. Domestic flights were only introduced on a larger scale post-war when Oakland International Airport was taken over by the military.
