San Francisco

Airports Serving San Francisco, California

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is one of the world's busiest airports. The recent dot.com boom developed it into a facility built for the future, encouraging airport authorities to provide world class services and bringing the airport the distinction of being named the best airport in the world. It now serves as a hub for destinations to Asia, Europe and Australia from the west coast. JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and Air Lingus have taken advantage of the incentives provided by airport management, which has resulted in new routes from San Francisco. The stiff competition with United Airlines, who has their hub and maintenance facility here, has encouraged at least 30 other carriers to drastically reduce their airfares to Japan, China, Mexico and certain European destinations.

Oakland International Airport (OAK) has become a very popular alternative to SFO. Located across San Francisco Bay, only 13 miles from San Francisco's downtown business district, you can rent a car and drive across or take the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train under the bay. OAK is more popular with low-cost airlines than is SFO and it enjoys the distinction of holding the highest on-time arrival percentage among the airports of North America for five of the first eight months of 2009. Renovations completed in 2008 have expanded retail, food and beverage establishments, as well as adding new baggage claim areas and significant improvements to the parking areas, curbsides and roadways. Allegiant Air, Horizon Air, JetBlue, Mexicana, US Airways, Southwest and Volaris all have scheduled low-cost flights into Oakland.

Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) is located near the conjunction of three major California highways, U.S. Route 101, I-880 and State Route 87. Though San Jose is 53 miles from San Francisco center, many business travelers use this airport when their business does not require their going to the downtown area. Slightly less congested than San Francisco, the more economical hotel rates often make it worth the commute by rental car. Any of those three highways will have many available options for comfortable, yet affordable lodging. American Eagle, Southwest and JetBlue offer low-cost service out of SJC.