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3w ago

FAA Permanently Limits SFO Parallel Landings, Cutting Hourly Arrivals by One-Third

The safety shift reflects concern over SFO’s unusually close parallel runways and complex local airspace.

FILE - Vehicles wait outside the international terminal at San Francisco International Airport, in San Francisco, July 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday imposed new safety restrictions on landings at San Francisco International Airport, a move expected to reduce the number of flights that can arrive per hour, increasing the risk of delays for travelers.
Arrivals and departures of United Airlines aircraft at Terminal 2 at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco on Oct. 2, 2025.

Overview

  • The FAA, which announced the change Tuesday, barred side‑by‑side approaches on SFO’s east‑west runways and will require staggered landings even in clear weather.
  • With two north‑south runways closed for repaving through early October 2026, maximum arrivals drop to 36 per hour from 54.
  • SFO estimates about 25% of arriving flights will face delays of at least 30 minutes, with peak pressure around 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
  • The agency says the rule is specific to SFO because its parallel runways are only about 750 feet apart and it does not plan to lift the restriction after construction.
  • United, the largest carrier at SFO, is reviewing schedules, the FAA is exploring ways to safely raise arrival rates, and some traffic could shift to Oakland or San José.