Private Jet Charter at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), California

• Dedicated FBO, Separate from the Terminal Crush: Signature Aviation handles all general aviation traffic at SFO, fully separate from the commercial concourses serving over 54 million annual passengers.
• A Real Alternate for the Current Capacity Constraint: With SFO's arrival rate reduced following the March 2026 FAA order, Oakland International (KOAK) and its KaiserAir FBO offer a genuine overflow option explicitly marketed for exactly this situation.
• Runway Capability with No Length Constraint: SFO's four runways range from 7,650 to 11,870 feet, comfortably supporting any aircraft in our fleet on length alone; the current constraint is capacity and scheduling, not runway size.

Elevation 13 ft. Customs landing rights airport. Control tower staffed continuously. Landing fee applies. Noise-sensitive airport designation, Fly Quiet program in effect.

This is genuinely current and worth understanding, not routine background.

• What Changed: Effective March 31, 2026, the FAA permanently prohibited simultaneous visual approaches on Runways 28L and 28R, which sit only 750 feet apart, a spacing the FAA determined no longer meets modern aircraft separation standards. Pilots now use staggered, radar-based approaches even in clear weather.
• The Impact: SFO's maximum arrival rate dropped from 54 to 36 aircraft per hour, a 33% reduction. SFO officials estimate roughly 25% of arriving flights now experience delays of at least 30 minutes.
• A Compounding Factor: A concurrent six-month repaving project on Runway 1R/19L further reduces available capacity during that construction window.
• What This Means for Charter Clients: Build extra schedule flexibility into any SFO trip during this period, and ask your operator whether Oakland offers a meaningfully faster path for your specific itinerary.

Yes, from virtually any domestic or international origin, subject to the current capacity constraint discussed above.

• From Domestic U.S. Origins: Light through ultra-long-range jets fly nonstop into SFO from virtually any U.S. airport; expect the possibility of arrival delays given the 2026 capacity reduction.
• From International Origins: SFO is a customs landing rights airport; your operator coordinates CBP clearance in advance.
• Weather-Dependent Runway Configuration: SFO uses a West Plan (Runways 1L/1R for departures, 28L/28R for arrivals) roughly 81% of the time, and a Southeast Plan (Runways 10L/10R departing, 19L/19R arriving) during rainstorms, roughly 4% of the time.
• Noise Abatement: Runway 10 is the preferred runway between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM when conditions permit; your operator manages Fly Quiet compliance as part of standard planning.

• Summer Fog Season (June to August): Marine layer fog is common and can affect visibility-driven runway configurations; build flexibility into early-morning departures.
• Post-Capacity-Change Booking (2026 ongoing): Given the 33% arrival-rate reduction, book further ahead than you might have previously, particularly for peak commuter hours.
• Rainy Season (November to March): Triggers the Southeast Plan runway configuration roughly 4% of the time; minor scheduling impact but worth knowing.
• Major Tech and Convention Events: Bay Area conference season (year-round, concentrated in spring and fall) drives periodic regional demand spikes.

• Ground Transfer: Approximately 8 to 13 miles to downtown San Francisco, subject to Bay Area traffic patterns.
• Customs and Immigration: SFO is a customs landing rights airport; your operator coordinates CBP clearance in advance of international arrivals.
• Delay Planning: Given the 2026 capacity reduction, ask your operator whether Oakland (KOAK) offers a faster path for your specific itinerary before committing to SFO.

Hogani Jets coordinates charter service through San Francisco for Bay Area business and leisure clients, with particular attention to the airport's 2026 capacity change and how it affects scheduling. As your broker, we do not own aircraft, operate FBOs, or hold Part 135 certificates ourselves.

Hogani Jets coordinates each San Francisco charter through licensed Part 135 operators. Hogani Jets does not operate the aircraft directly; every charter is conducted through a licensed Part 135 operator whose crew, maintenance, and operations remain under that operator's independent control, with certifications and safety records reviewed as part of every booking.

Through Hogani Jets, your operator evaluates SFO against the Oakland alternate for every booking, manages Fly Quiet compliance, and coordinates customs pre-clearance for international arrivals.

To review available aircraft or request a route estimation, contact us at charter@hoganijets.com or call +1-855-660-0573.

What airport code is San Francisco's main airport?

San Francisco International Airport uses ICAO code KSFO and IATA/FAA code SFO. It sits approximately 8 to 13 miles southeast of downtown San Francisco in an unincorporated part of San Mateo County.

Did SFO recently lose arrival capacity?

Yes, significantly. On March 31, 2026, the FAA permanently banned simultaneous side-by-side landings on SFO's closely spaced parallel runways (28L and 28R, only 750 feet apart), a real-time capacity change. This cut the airport's maximum arrival rate by roughly 33%, from 54 to 36 aircraft per hour, and SFO officials estimate about 25% of arriving flights now face delays of 30 minutes or more. A concurrent six-month repaving project on Runway 1R/19L compounds the reduction further.

Is SFO a private-aviation-only airport?

No. It is one of the busiest commercial international gateways in the country, a hub for United and Alaska Airlines with over 54 million annual passengers. Private jets use a dedicated FBO separate from the commercial terminals.

How many FBOs serve SFO directly?

One: Signature Aviation, confirmed as the sole on-site general aviation FBO through AirNav's current directory.

Is there a good alternate to SFO given the new capacity restrictions?

Yes. Oakland International Airport (KOAK), about 10 miles northeast, hosts KaiserAir, an FBO that explicitly markets itself as a standby option specifically for when SFO experiences delays, offering full private aviation service without SFO's current arrival-rate constraint.

Can international flights clear customs at SFO?

Yes. SFO is a customs landing rights airport; your operator coordinates CBP clearance in advance of an international arrival.

Which runway is best for charter jets at SFO?

Runway 10L/28R, at 11,870 feet, is the airport's longest and most capable runway with Category III ILS approach capability, typically the preferred choice for charter jet operations. Runway 10R/28L (11,381 ft) is a strong second option.

Does SFO have noise restrictions?

Yes. SFO is designated a noise-sensitive airport, and Runway 10 is the preferred runway between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM when weather and flight conditions permit. Your operator coordinates compliance with the airport's Fly Quiet program as part of standard trip planning.

How does SFO's elevated fog and wind pattern affect scheduling?

SFO operates under different runway configurations depending on weather: a West Plan during normal westerly winds, and a Southeast Plan during rainstorms (roughly 4% of the time) that shifts operations to Runways 10 and 19. Combined with the 2026 capacity reduction, this makes schedule flexibility more valuable at SFO than at many other airports in our network.

Can my car pick me up directly at the aircraft at SFO?

Yes, through Signature Aviation, SFO's on-site FBO, which supports planeside vehicle access for charter clients.