San Francisco International Airport

SFO is a large commercial hub that handles private jets alongside major airline traffic. Signature Flight Support operates the primary FBO on the west side of the airport. Expect commercial congestion to affect taxi times and departure sequencing, particularly during morning and evening bank hours. SFO is one of the more delay-prone airports in the country due to marine layer fog, which can push IFR approaches well into the morning hours.

Private jet passengers arriving internationally clear CBP at SFO, which has 24-hour customs service. If you're arriving domestically and want to avoid SFO's traffic, Oakland (KOAK) and San Jose (KSJC) are viable alternatives with dedicated GA facilities and lighter congestion. SFO makes the most sense when proximity to San Francisco proper or international customs is the deciding factor.

Noise abatement procedures apply on departures. Stage 2 jets are restricted between 11:30pm and 7am. Modern Stage 3 and Stage 4 aircraft operate without a hard curfew but must follow published noise abatement departure procedures.

Downtown San Francisco is 14 miles north of the airport. Car service typically runs 25 to 45 minutes, though Bay Bridge and 101 congestion during commute hours can push that to 60 minutes or more. For Silicon Valley destinations, Palo Alto is roughly 20 miles south (30 minutes in light traffic), and San Jose is 40 miles south (35 to 50 minutes). BART connects SFO directly to downtown San Francisco in about 30 minutes for passengers traveling light, but most private jet passengers use car service arranged through the FBO. Helicopter transfers to the San Francisco Embarcadero helipad are available and cut transit to under 10 minutes.