Flight of fancy: San Francisco moves to build private luxury airport terminal

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is pursuing a new private luxury terminal designed to serve premium-paying travelers with separate security and customs facilities. The airport wants to bid out the development, construction, and operation of a terminal planned for a 75,000-square-foot site across the runway from existing public terminals. SFO would offer dedicated Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) lines for international travel, and it would focus on commercial flights rather than private or corporate jets. Proposals are expected between late September and early October, with a contract targeted for early December and an opening planned for late 2028. SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel cited high demand for premium experiences, pointing to the popularity of credit card and premium lounges. The airport said public terminal traffic is not expected to change and referenced similar facilities at Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and São Paulo/Guarulhos.