Oh, SFO: Why So Delayed? (And What’s With the “O”?)

Bay Curious

KQED

History, Society & Culture, Places & Travel

4.9 • 999 Ratings

🗓️ 12 September 2019

⏱️ 10 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

It might seem like everyone thinks their local airport is the worst of them all: the longest security lines, the worst food, the most delays. But we in the Bay Area have good reason to complain. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, in 2018 SFO was the third-most-delayed major airport in the U.S. in terms of arrivals, with about 26 percent of arriving flights delayed. And that’s not unique to last year. Since 2010, SFO has consistently ranked in the top four of the most delayed airports, some years dipping as low as 69 percent of flights arriving on-time. Also, what’s the deal with the ‘O’ in SFO? Read the full web story on airport codes here: Why the ‘O’ in San Francisco’s Airport Code, SFO? Read the full web story on delays here: Why SFO Is Notorious For Delays Reported by Maggie Galloway and Jessica Placzek Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Maggie Galloway, Robert Speight, Katie McMurran, Paul Lancour and Ryan Levi. Additional support from Julie Caine, Suzie Racho, Ethan Lindsey, Pat Yollin and David Weir. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org

Transcript

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0:00.0	From KQED.
0:02.0	Hey guys, it's Jessica Plachik from the Bay Curious team.
0:07.0	Right now, runway construction at SFO is causing loads of flight delays and cancellations and construction is supposed to last
0:14.7	another two weeks. Olivia actually got delayed two and a half hours on her way out of
0:19.6	town but before she left we recorded this episode on what usually causes delays at
0:25.7	SFO. So without further ado...
0:29.8	Ladies and gentlemen, this is Olivia Alan Price and I'm your chief flight attendant today on behalf of the entire crew here at Bay curious
0:37.7	Welcome aboard our flight time today will be a sprightly nine minutes
0:42.2	We'll be flying at an altitude of 31,000 feet and answering two questions about San Francisco
0:48.6	International Airport or SFO.
0:52.0	Why are flights so often delayed and what's with the O in SFO?
0:57.0	At this time, make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full, upright and locked position and that your seat belt is correctly
1:04.7	fastened.
1:05.7	As for your portable electronics, well, better leave those on, just this once.
1:11.2	Before we take off, please direct your full attention to your listening device as we demonstrate the safety features aboard this aircraft.
1:19.0	Support for Bay Curious is brought to you by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, still family owned, operated, and argued
1:25.8	over. Explore their brews wherever fine beverages are sold and taste how trailblazing runs in the family.
1:33.0	Visit Sierra Nevada.com to find your new favorite beer today.
1:38.1	All right, let's get to our first question asker.
1:41.0	Hey, my name is Alex.
1:42.3	I live in San Francisco.
1:43.0	Alex is a frequent flyer and has noticed that at SFO things sometimes move at a different pace.
	...

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