# Travel >> Destinations >> Mexico

San Diego International Airport: Size, Runways & Capacity

San Diego International Airport (SAN) is a single-runway commercial airport serving the San Diego metropolitan area. Despite its modest footprint, it handles over 20 million passengers annually.

Key Specifications

Metric	Value
Total Area	661 acres (268 hectares)
Runways	1 primary runway (9/27) — Note: Often described as two directions on one pavement
Runway 9/27 Length	9,401 ft (2,865 m)
Runway Width	200 ft (61 m)
Max Aircraft	Boeing 747 / Airbus A340 capable (limited by length/obstacles)
Terminals	2 (Terminal 1: 19 gates; Terminal 2: 32 gates + 7 commuter)
Gates Total	51
Heliport	1 (H-1)
Hangars	Multiple (GA, cargo, maintenance)

Operational Context

Busiest single-runway airport in the U.S. (by passenger volume)
Constrained site: Bounded by San Diego Bay, I-5, Pacific Highway, downtown—no room to expand
Noise abatement: Strict curfew (11:30 PM–6:30 AM departure limits); steep approaches
Obstacle clearance: Downtown buildings, Balboa Park, Point Loma limit max takeoff weight

Comparison

LAX: 3,500 acres, 4 runways
SFO: 5,200 acres, 4 runways
SAN: 661 acres, 1 runway — remarkably efficient for its size

Future: Airport Development Plan (ADP)

Terminal 1 replacement (30 gates, 2025+ completion)
Terminal 2 West modernization
Roadway/transit improvements (possible trolley connection)
No runway expansion possible — capacity gains via gate efficiency, larger aircraft, next-gen ATC

SAN punches far above its acreage: a landlocked, single-runway airport that's a top-15 U.S. gateway by passengers, driven by tourism, biotech, military, and cross-border traffic.

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