San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the primary international airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area, located in South San Francisco, California, United States. It is the largest and busiest airport in the state and one of the leading airports in the world.
The airport was initially known as the Mills Field Municipal Airport, named after Lieutenant Colonel Frederick C. Mills, an aviation pioneer who had served with the Army Signal Corps in World War I. The airport was opened in 1927, and in 1930 the City and County of San Francisco purchased it for $1.25 million. The airport grew steadily in the decades following, becoming a major international hub. In 1945, it became known as the San Francisco International Airport to better reflect its status as an international destination.
The airport code, SFO, was determined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The IATA assigns three-letter codes to airports around the world, and SFO was chosen for San Francisco International Airport because the first two letters represent the city and the last letter represents the airport.
Today, San Francisco International Airport has over 1,000 daily flights to over 80 destinations around the world. It is one of the busiest airports in the United States, handling over 50 million passengers each year. Major airlines that serve the airport include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, British Airways, and Air Canada.
The airport also features several amenities and services, including a variety of restaurants, retail stores, and lounges. It offers a wide range of ground transportation options, including rental cars, taxis, shuttles, and public transportation. It is also home to several art installations, including the San Francisco International Airport Murals, which were created by local artists in the 1970s and 1980s.
San Francisco International Airport is an important part of the San Francisco Bay Area's transportation infrastructure. It is also an important economic engine for the region, providing thousands of jobs and generating billions of dollars in economic activity each year.
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