Small Bay Area airports plan to get in on Super Bowl action

HAYWARD, Calif. (KTVU) - While the next Super Bowl is still more than six months away – the big winner at Levi's Stadium could be Hayward Executive Airport.

"We're going to be ready to roll out the red carpet when it happens," said airport manager Doug McNeeley.

The Federal Aviation Administration is anticipating some 1,200 corporate and private jets during Super Bowl week, and about 120 of them are expected to land at Hayward. That's about ten times the number of jets it usually sees.

The question is - where are they all going to park? "We're probably going to have to shut down one of our taxiways. We're going to have to create additional parking areas. We're going to have to make way for a lot of limos and taxis," said McNeeley.

Oakland Airport is expected to accommodate the largest number of visiting jets during Super Bowl week - up to 500.

But some of the smaller airports including Livermore, Concord and Hayward are expecting to pick up the slack.

At Hayward, the APP Jet Center not only expects be selling five times the amount of fuel than in a typical week, but it will also act as a concierge to the passengers.

"Booking hotel rooms, taking catering information, fueling the aircraft. Making sure the aircraft gets in and out at the scheduled time," said Tom Panico, manager of the jet center.

By far the most chaotic time here figures to be that Sunday night, after the game is over.

"Everyone is going to want to get out at the same time. It's going to be all hands on deck," said Panico.