An interview with

Michael McCarron
Director, Bureau of Community Affairs
San Francisco International Airport

 

How big is San Francisco International Airport?

San Francisco International Airport is the 9th busiest airport in the nation and about the 11th in the world. In the year 2000, we handled about 41 million passengers. At that time, we were the 5th busiest. Since 9-11 we have dropped to 9th and we average about 30 to 34 million annually right now.

How much do you market to the Central Valley?

We do market to the Central Valley. We handle 94% of northern California's international traffic, and 57% of the area's domestic traffic. So the Central Valley up and down is a huge market for us. Not just directly but also indirectly through connector flights. Through commuter flights. And other ways to get people into the airport.

What issues have you wrestled with in terms of growth?

The 2000 and 2001 were high water marks for us in terms of travel, as I said earlier. We began to experience huge delays in traffic starting in years 1997-98 as traffic increased. And also weather decreased. We had a real problem with bad weather. Our runways are so close together that we can't land side by side in bad weather. We have to separate the traffic out. So instead of getting 60 planes in here in an hour we'd go down to 30. And it was a snowball affect in creating delays throughout the day. So what we're looking at right now, we're studying the feasibility of separating the runways out to 4,300 feet out which is the minimum required by federal law to operate side by side operations. The downside of this is that we'd have to fill in part of the Bay if we do it. So we're looking at all the environmental impacts, noise impacts, traffic. And if we can get this project approved, if it's feasible enough, we can maintain a flow rate of 60 planes an hour which will allow us to continue operation and allow for potential growth.

How do you see the airport changing over the next twenty years?

Well, that is what we're looking at right now: hat will happen 20 years from now? The economy will rebound eventually and we see this area growing as well. How can we meet those demands? We have the physical facilities here -- the terminals -- to meet that. But now with traffic increasing can we maintain that flow rate of 60 planes an hour. On a sunny day that's no problem. But when ever the clouds or fog come in, which is a common factor in San Francisco, that slows us down. So we need to look at how we can separate those out and maintain that flow rate.

What are some of the pros and cons of being such a big airport?

Some of the advantages of working at a large airport are normally we have the revenue base to do big things -- big ticket items. Our international terminal is considered a model for the rest of the nation. We have the most advanced baggage security system, personal security systems, ticketing systems -- all put in that terminal -- that other airports are coming to look at us for. Some of the downsides: we are so big that sometimes it's hard to do the little things. And so we always focus on what we can do…to make it better. And it gets lost in the shuffle sometimes, just like any big enterprise, so we have to refocus on the people, the little issues -- the little things that count to the traveler.

Sacramento International is starting to expand. Do you consider them competition?

Sacramento is not necessarily competition; they are another operation for us. They feed airplanes into us that go in international routes. They have a niche for domestic travel out of Sacramento and the Central Valley. So we just feel they're another airport that has some sort of market, but they will not be a competitive market with us.

Do think the Central Valley is underserved?

Growing up in Sacramento, I would say, yeah, it probably is. There is a huge market; the economic and political basis of Sacramento itself requires more service. I think for years that it has been neglected but I think the marketing that Sac. International is doing is focusing airlines such Southwest and smaller carriers on that certain niche that has been gone since PSA and AirCal and other carriers left the Sacramento area and went out of business. I think there is a need for better service in the Central Valley. The smaller communities of Stockton, Marysville, Redding, Red Bluff -- all up and down the Valley -- do need that service, and I am sure if there is a market for it, a carrier will come in and take it.

How have you handled security in terms of growth?

Well actually, the security in San Francisco was a couple steps ahead before it was required. A little over 10 years ago we installed a biometric system where you not only use a hand card but a hand reader to access the doors. We've had, as I said, the most advanced baggage through-system in the international terminal in place two years already, prior to 9-11. Many of the systems we've installed we're spreading throughout the airport and other airports are coming to us to see how they were installed and how well they work.