New FAA Restrictions Cut SFO Landing Capacity by a Third
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed permanent landing restrictions at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). This move is set to significantly reduce arrival capacity and escalate flight delays. The FAA declared on Tuesday that simultaneous side-by-side landings on the airport’s closely spaced parallel runways will no longer be permitted, even under clear weather conditions.
These new restrictions necessitate staggered approaches, with aircraft offset from each other during descent. This change slashes SFO’s maximum arrival rate from 54 flights per hour to a mere 36 – a reduction in capacity by one-third. This comes at a time when the airport is initiating a six-month runway repaving project, creating a potential surge in delays.
FAA spokesman Ian Gregor stated that officials determined SFO’s longstanding practice of landing two planes simultaneously on parallel runways spaced just 750 feet apart—combined with congested airspace—was too dangerous. This decision follows recent safety reviews and broader concerns about aircraft separation, including incidents involving close proximity between aircraft and helicopters near major airports.
- Airlines most affected: United Airlines and Alaska Airlines, which account for a significant share of SFO traffic.
- Expected delays: Airport officials now expect approximately 25% of arriving flights to experience delays of at least 30 minutes during the construction period, up from an earlier estimate of 15%.
- Duration of ban: The parallel landing ban will remain in effect permanently, even after runway construction concludes in October 2026.
Source: https://avweb.com/aviation-news/faa-restricts-sfo-landings/