$215M SFO runway project completed, reopens ahead of schedule: Does this mean fewer flight delays?
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Ready for takeoff on Runway 1 Right at San Francisco International Airport? For the last six months, the runway was closed for extensive renovations. But on Tuesday, the runway reopened ahead of schedule.
The $215 million project included repaving the runway, upgrading lighting and taxiways, and also replacing 64 miles of electrical cable.
SFO Spokesperson Doug Yakel spoke live with ABC7 Eyewitness News anchor Karina Nova on our 3 p.m. newscast Tuesday to tell us about the return of the runway and how it will impact the airport's on-time performance.
"This will have a dramatic impact on what travelers see at the airport," Yakel said. "The real cause of delays now will only be weather related."
A new rule by Federal Aviation Administration is limiting the number of planes that can land at the airport hourly. The safety requirement restricts side-by-side approaches.
Yakel says the current number of arrivals per hour is 45, and the airport plans to increase that to 48.
Airport officials are reminding everyone the increased arrival doesn't mean delays will disappear completely, but overall planes should be able to get in more smoothly.
The impact on holiday travel
SFO is also preparing for takeoff of the holiday travel season.
"Last year, over the Thanksgiving week, we handled about one million passengers in and out of SFO, so we think we're going to exceed that number by about 20,000 more people. So our key message is allowing extra time," Yakel said.
His advice for holiday travelers?
Give yourself extra time. And if you're going to use an airport parking garage, Yakel suggests you prebook a space online.
Watch the full interview in the media player above.
