SFGATE: SFO prepares for slots as more flights crowd in

SFO prepares for slots as more flights crowd in"
Published on May 28, 2018 at 04:37PM by Chris McGinnis, Tim Jue

It's not your imagination: congestion at San Francisco International Airport is getting worse as waits for gates become more common, airport road traffic slows down, and more passengers and planes than ever crowd in.

How can the airport deal with an onslaught like that? Well, after more than a decade of record growth, SFO is preparing for a slot-controlled future which could be implemented in the coming decade.

Slot-controls are common at the busiest airports worldwide to limit congestion. At these airports, airlines lease time slots of when they want to take-off and land. The number of slots available is capped — making them pricey and valuable commodities for carriers wishing to serve the busiest airports at the most popular flight times.