SFO’s Next Big Airfield Overhaul: Runway 1R/19L to Close for Six Months in 2026
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is preparing to begin another major runway rehabilitation project in 2026, with Runway 1R/19L scheduled to close for a full repavement and related airfield upgrades. The work is slated to run through much of the peak summer travel season and is expected to have a modest—though noticeable—impact on airport operations.
Timeline and scope of work
SFO plans to take Runway 1R/19L out of service from March 30, 2026, through October 2, 2026—roughly six months. The project includes:
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Full repaving of the runway surface layer
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Taxiway improvements connected to the runway
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Lighting system upgrades
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Repainting runway markings
The total cost is estimated at $180 million, with about half of the funding coming from the FAA.
Operational impact: fewer runways, tighter margins
SFO has four runways, so closing one for half the year reduces flexibility and overall capacity during busy periods. Airport officials expect fewer than 10% of flights to experience delays attributable to the runway closure—most likely during peak departure banks when demand stacks up.
SFO has recent experience operating with reduced runway availability, following runway rehabilitation projects in 2023 and 2024, which should help minimize disruptions.
How departures and arrivals may shift
Runway 1R typically supports narrowbody departures, often in parallel with Runway 1L. With 1R closed:
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Parallel northbound departures from 1L and 1R won’t be possible, which can slow the departure flow during certain traffic patterns.
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More narrowbody aircraft may be routed to Runway 1L or to 28L/28R for departure, which can lengthen departure queues.
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Arrivals generally continue on 28L/28R, so the biggest pinch points are expected on the departure side.
Potential community noise changes
Because traffic will be redistributed across the remaining runways, some nearby communities could notice changes in aircraft noise, depending on the day’s runway configuration and wind/weather.
Part of a broader runway modernization push
This project will mark SFO’s third runway renovation in four years:
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2023: Runway 1L/19R refurbished
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2024: Runway 10R/28L repaved
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2026 (planned): Runway 1R/19L repaved and upgraded
Once complete, SFO will have repaved three of its four runways, improving pavement condition, durability under heavy use, and overall airfield resilience.
What travelers should expect
Most passengers likely won’t see dramatic disruption day-to-day, but during high-demand windows—especially in summer—expect a higher chance of:
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Longer taxi-out times
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Departure metering and gate holds
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Occasional knock-on delays during peak hours or when weather limits runway options
