SFO arrivals could see up to 25% flights delayed due to repaving project, upgrades
SFO arrivals could see up to 25% flights delayed due to repaving project, upgrades
SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel said they initially forecast about 15% of flights being delayed during construction, but the Federal Aviation Administration has told them, because of their safety restrictions, that the reduced arrival rate will see delay potential for approximately 25% of arriving flights experiencing a delay of at least 30 minutes.
SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco International Airport recently dodged the bullet when it came to TSA-related airport delays, but there are new reasons why the airport will see delays, and they have to do with upgrades and long-term improvements at SFO.
What we know:
On Monday, two of the airport's north-south runways closed to be repaved. In addition, adjacent taxiways will be improved. Airport officials said the runway closures will last six months and are expected to reopen October 2, 2026.
What they're saying:
SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel said they initially forecast about 15% of flights being delayed during construction, but the Federal Aviation Administration has told them, because of their safety restrictions, that the reduced arrival rate will see potential for delays for approximately 25% of arriving flights and that those delays could last as long as 30 minutes.
According to airport officials, arrivals could drop from about 54 flights per hour to around 36 under the new rule.
"We are working with the FAA on ways to improve the arrival rate at SFO," Yakel said.
The FAA issued a statement about the project and restrictions.
"The FAA safety measure prohibits flights from making side-by-side approaches to SFO’s parallel east-west runways in clear weather when the pilots acknowledge having the other aircraft in sight," said Ian Gregor with the FAA's office of communications. "It requires staggered approaches, with one aircraft offset from the aircraft on the parallel runway. The FAA never allowed side-by-side approaches in bad weather."
Gregor said the FAA is looking for ways to safely increase SFO's arrival rate during this construction period.
Former SFO communications manager Mike McCarron said the decision likely caught airports and airlines off guard. McCarron added that many pilots feel that the visual separation approach is safe.
"This is for them the most safe way to operate. They can see the other aircraft, they know the spacing, they’re in control of their own aircraft," said McCarron.
He added the impact could be significant during peak travel times.
"When you’ve got a schedule that says you’re getting 50 to 60 planes an hour, you’re going to have some real slowdowns."
McCarron compared the new system to a bottleneck.
"It effectively creates a single-lane highway with a merge point."
Dig deeper:
During this construction period, adjustments will be made for all arrivals and departures to take place on Runways 28 Left and 28 Right, a preferential scenario for air traffic controllers, according to an SFO press release from one month ago.
SFO says the delays are most likely to occur during peak periods, including 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The repaving project will also include upgraded lighting and newly painted striping and other markings.
The total construction cost is estimated to be $180 million. Airport officials say $92.1 million of that is funded by the FAA.
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