Many As 48 Hourly Arrivals: SFO Reopens Runway 1R After 6-Month Closure

San Francisco International Airport has reopened Runway 1R after more than six months of closure tied to a $215 million renovation. The work began earlier in 2026 and aimed to repave the runway end-to-end, with crews placing more than 200,000 tons of asphalt. Funding included a partial contribution from the Federal Aviation Administration ($92.1 million). The makeover included 64 miles (103 km) of new electrical cable and 2,440 new light fixtures, along with upgrades to adjacent taxiways and new painted markings and signage. Runway 1R reopened Tuesday, September 29, 2026. During the closure, all arrivals and departures shifted to Runways 28L and 28R, while Runway 1L was used as an extra taxiway, reducing capacity. Now, SFO can handle up to 48 flights per hour—about easing ground delays tied to the tighter operational restrictions.