San Francisco Braces for Six Months of Delays as FAA Cuts Arrivals

Up to a quarter of flights into San Francisco International Airport could be delayed by 30 minutes or more as the FAA reduces the airport’s hourly arrivals by one-third due to safety concerns and runway construction.

The FAA cited concerns about SFO’s parallel runways, just 230 metres apart, as it cut arrivals from to 36 from 54 per hour. The reduction is expected to last until 02OCT when the runway construction should be completed.

It is unclear if any flights will be cancelled.

Canadian travellers could be affected by delays as they connect through SFO, one of the busiest airports on the west coast. United Airlines and Alaska Airlines, the airport’s largest carriers, are reviewing schedules.

FAA said the change was not triggered by safety concerns following the recent crash at LaGuardia. The change is unique to SFO because of its complex airspace and proximity to other major airports.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said officials decided SFO’s longstanding practice of landing two planes at the same time on closely spaced parallel runways along with congested airspace was too dangerous. He could not say why the practice had been allowed.