Exclusive: SFO Expects Fewer Delays After FAA Partially Reverses Ban on Parallel Landings
San Francisco International Airport has received federal approval for staggered parallel plane landings, a significant revision after regulators banned all parallel landings in March.
The Federal Aviation Administration signed off on a higher frequency of landings and the change is expected to provide some “relief” after a summer of frequent delays, SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel told the Chronicle.
“On August 12th, the FAA will implement a revised procedure to allow for staggered parallel landings at SFO. While this will not fully restore the arrival rate we had when true side-by-side landings were permitted, this is nonetheless a step in the right direction,” Yakel said.
The FAA didn’t have immediate comment.
The airport has seen a spike in delays since the FAA ban took effect, on top of major runway construction that started in March. One of SFO’s four runways, 1 Right, was closed for repaving and taxiway improvements. Yakel said more than a third of flights since March have been delayed by 15 minutes or more, compared to about one-fifth in 2025.
The construction project shifted all landings and takeoffs to the 28 Left and 28 Right runways, while remaining runway 1 Left is being used exclusively as a taxiway. Construction is on pace to conclude in October.
The FAA didn’t cite any specific safety incidents when it banned parallel landings, SFO previously said. The practice had been the norm for decades.
Sandwiched between the highway and bay, SFO has little room to grow and can’t add additional runway capacity. Frequent foggy weather can also exacerbate delays.
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