Expedite your entry process into the United States

SFO is one of only five airports in the United States to offer Mobile Passport Control express lanes in its Federal Inspection Area.

Mobile Passport enables eligible travelers to submit their passport and customs declaration information via their smartphone instead of the traditional paper form.  Travelers can simply download the Mobile Passport app from the app store and set up a profile with their passport data.  The app is highly secure and available at no cost.

When a traveler is preparing to enter the U.S., the traveler completes the “New Trip” section of the app: selecting arrival airport and airline, taking a “selfie” photo, and answering standard Customs and Border Protection (CBP) customs declaration questions.  Upon arrival, the traveler uses the app to submit this information along with the profile data to CBP. 

After reviewing the submission, CBP may send a digital, secure bar-coded receipt to the traveler’s smartphone via the app.  The traveler then proceeds through the arrivals area, following the Mobile Passport Control signs until prompted by CBP to place their digital bar-coded receipt on the barcode scanner and presenting their passport to a CBP officer.  Unless further inspection is necessary, the passenger then exits the arrivals area.

For more information, visit mobilepassport.us.

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G'Day Mate! Qantas Airways Scheduled to Return to SFO

Airline announces resumption of nonstop flights to Sydney

Qantas Airways announced plans to resume nonstop service between SFO and Sydney beginning December 18, 2015.  Qantas plans to build the schedule to six flights per week effective January 2016. The airline had previously operated at SFO from March 29, 2006, through May 7, 2011.

“San Francisco is pleased to welcome the return of Qantas Airways to SFO, a clear sign of economic confidence in our Bay Area region,” said Mayor Lee.  “Qantas carries a rich tradition dating back to the dawn of commercial aviation, and we are proud to once again be a part of their future.  The return of Qantas will strengthen the highly regarded sister city relationship between San Francisco and Sydney.”

Australia represents a significant source of travel and tourism for San Francisco.  In 2014, a total of 201,600 people visited San Francisco from Australia, ranking it seventh among international inbound markets to San Francisco.

Qantas is one of the largest and oldest airlines in the world, having been founded in 1920 as the Queensland and Northern Territories Aerial Services Limited.

Qantas is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, which includes American Airlines, British Airways, and Cathay Pacific.  Qantas will operate nonstop flights six days per week, using a Boeing 747-400 aircraft with 353 passenger seats, comprised of 14 First Class, 52 Business Class, 32 Premium Economy, and 255 Economy seats.

For more information, visit Qantas Airways.

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Flight Arrivals:  Upcoming Service Additions at SFO

Airline	Destination	New Flights	Effective Date	Notes
	Zurich (ZRH)	6 / week	July 4	Second flight, summer season
	Panama City (PTY)	7 / week	September 17	New airline, new route

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 Catch Our Style - California Regional Airlines 1950s - 1980s

California was a West Coast center for the development of aviation from the earliest years of flight, and during the late 1920s, was home to numerous regional airlines; yet, most operated briefly.  By the time of the Great Depression, the majority either went bankrupt or merged into larger, trunk-carrier airlines.  With the economic boom of the 1950s and 60s, the demand for commuter air service exceeded any previous era.  As a result, a number of small, regional carriers were formed and operated successfully within the state.  These included PSA (Pacific Southwest Airlines) in San Diego; Air California (later AirCal) in Newport Beach; and Pacific Air Lines (later Air West and Hughes Airwest) in San Francisco.

By offering discounted fares on a wide range of short-haul routes, along with quick check-ins, and friendly, accommodating service with a uniquely Californian style and high-fashion panache, these airlines were able to attract a broad, loyal customer base and successfully compete within the California Corridor with the larger carriers, including TWA (Trans World Airlines), United Air Lines, and Western Air Lines.  Catch Our Style presents the legacy of these California commuter airlines through a collection of flight and ground crew uniforms, inflight service items and equipment, ephemera, and promotional materials.

Catch Our Style is on display in the Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum & Library, International Terminal Main Hall, A-side until November 9, 2015.  The Aviation Museum & Library is open 10:00 am to 4:30 pm Sunday through Friday and is available to the public at no charge.  For more information about this exhibition, visit Catch Our Style.

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SFO Scores Multiple Awards for Concessions and Amenities

Airport honored for best overall concession program

SFO was honored with multiple awards for its concessions and amenities programs in the Airport Revenue News (ARN) 2015 Best Airport & Concession Awards program:

•         Best Overall Concessions Program
•         Amenities Program – Large Airport
•         Best Concession Management Team

“Concession and amenity programs are vital to our goal of providing an exceptional airport experience to our guests,” said Airport Director John L. Martin.  “Airport Revenue News is a respected authority in the airport industry, and we are truly honored by these awards.”

Airport Revenue News has been recognizing airport excellence since 1995.  Awards for 2015 were announced on the final night of the ARN Revenue Conference & Exhibition, held in San Diego.  A record number of votes were cast for the awards.

In January 2014, SFO launched an innovative “pop-up” concession concept in its newly-renovated Terminal 3, Boarding Area E.  The concept allowed small businesses representing the San Francisco Bay Area to gain access to the Airport, with move-in ready facilities designed to reduce the initial start-up costs that challenge many small businesses.

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SFO Unveils Automated Passport Control Kiosks in Customs Facility

Automation offers expedited process for international arriving passengers

SFO unveiled 40 Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks to expedite the customs entry process for international arriving passengers.  The kiosks allow eligible international travelers to submit their customs declaration form and biographic information electronically, thereby reducing the time they spend with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer.  Individuals can complete the process in approximately 90 seconds.

“We are committed to improving the arrival experience for our international travelers, and these new APC kiosks provide an easy way to speed through the customs process,” said Airport Director John L. Martin.  “International traffic continues to grow at SFO, and this automation will help ensure that our customs facility can efficiently accommodate the increased activity.”

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection remains committed to making the international arrivals process as traveler-friendly as possible by offering new and innovative technology to streamline the process,” said Brian J. Humphrey, CBP Director of Field Operations in San Francisco.  “APC kiosks have been proven to reduce wait times for the ever-growing number of international visitors without compromising our important border protection mission.”

The system is currently available to U.S. and Canadian passport holders, lawful Permanent Residents, and international visitors under a visa waiver program.  Travelers follow touchscreen instructions, available in 13 languages, to scan their passport and answer customs declaration questions.  Successful users are then issued a receipt confirming their information, which is shown to a CBP officer for final processing before proceeding to international baggage claim.

In 2014, international traffic at SFO grew 5.5%, and over 4.4 million passengers arrived through the customs facility.

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