SFO Opens Bidding for Private Commercial Terminal Planned by 2028

San Francisco International Airport has opened bidding for a separate private terminal that would serve passengers on ordinary commercial flights. The planned facility would provide its own security and customs processing, private waiting spaces and vehicle transfers across the airfield, allowing paying customers to avoid the public terminal for most of their airport journey.

The terminal does not exist yet, no operator has been selected and no traveler can book it today. As of July 2026, the firm dates are for the procurement: proposals may be submitted from September 30 through October 7, while the airport has identified late 2028 as the earliest realistic opening period.

What SFO has approved now

The official SFO procurement page says the Airport Commission has begun the request for proposals process for a private terminal ground lease. That action moves the concept beyond informal interest, but it is still a competitive development process rather than an announcement that a finished terminal is opening.

SFO held an informational conference on June 18 and accepted questions through July 2. The public submission portal says proposals will be accepted for one week, opening at 2 p.m. Pacific Time on September 30 and closing at the same time on October 7, giving qualified operators a defined route to compete for the project.

The Airport Commission had already authorized staff to issue the solicitation in January. Official commission minutes confirm that the building does not yet exist and that ownership would transfer to SFO at the end of the lease, separating the public airport asset from the private company expected to finance and operate the service.

The plan is for commercial passengers, not private jets

The phrase private terminal can suggest a facility for corporate aircraft, but this proposal targets passengers holding tickets on commercial airlines. Customers would arrive at a separate building, complete the required airport formalities there and then travel by controlled vehicle to the aircraft serving their scheduled flight.

That distinction matters because the service would not buy a different airplane, seat or schedule. A customer using the private terminal would eventually board the same commercial flight as passengers who checked in and cleared screening through the main terminal, so airline delays, cancellations and onboard conditions would still apply normally.

Dedicated screening would remain official screening

The planned facility calls for dedicated Transportation Security Administration processing before departure and Customs and Border Protection processing for international arrivals. Private surroundings would change where customers complete those steps, but not remove the federal screening and entry requirements that apply to the trip.

International travelers would still need the correct passport, visa or travel authorization and would remain subject to inspection. The practical benefit is a separate processing environment with fewer customers and coordinated handling, not an exemption from security, customs, immigration or airline document rules.

SFO is seeking an experienced operator rather than testing the idea with an ordinary lounge company. The published qualification details require a record of managing a private terminal with both TSA and CBP processes, which reflects the operational complexity of moving screened customers between a remote facility and active commercial aircraft.

What the proposed facility would contain

Procurement summaries describe a 75,023 square foot terminal site on North Access Road and a separate 13,415 square foot parking area across the street. The building program includes private guest rooms and may include a shared salon, creating a model closer to a small independent terminal than a premium lounge placed behind a normal checkpoint.

Direct vehicle service is central to the concept. Departing customers would be taken from the private facility to their aircraft, while arriving customers could be met at the aircraft and transferred back for baggage, customs or onward ground arrangements as required by the operator and federal agencies.

Those movements require airfield permissions, secure vehicles and careful timing with airlines and ground crews. The remote location could make the experience feel separate from SFO, but every transfer would still depend on the airport operating safely around gates, taxiways and aircraft servicing activity.

Pricing and access are still unknown

SFO has not published a consumer price list because there is no selected operator or live service. Airport spokesperson Doug Yakel told the San Francisco Chronicle that the market could support membership and per use payment, meaning travelers may eventually see both annual access and single trip options.

It is too early to assume that an airline ticket, elite status, premium cabin or credit card will include access. The winning operator will still need to define who can reserve, how far in advance bookings open, whether service covers every airline and flight, and how pricing changes for arrivals, departures, families or international processing.

Travelers comparing premium airport choices can use current airport lounge reviews as a reference point, but the products are different. A lounge usually begins after public check in and security, while the planned SFO service is designed to replace most of the main terminal path with a separate controlled experience.

The late 2028 date is a target, not a booking date

Current reporting places a possible opening in late 2028, after SFO selects an operator and the project completes development, approval and construction. The airport is expected to choose a proposal after the October competition, but an award would begin the work rather than make the service immediately available.

A remote terminal with federal screening and airfield transfers needs more than interior construction. The operator must coordinate building design, vehicle routes, security boundaries, baggage handling, airline procedures and federal agency staffing, any of which could affect the opening schedule or the services available on the first day.

Travelers planning flights in 2026 or 2027 should ignore headlines that make the facility sound open. Even a late 2028 trip should not be planned around private terminal access until SFO or the selected operator publishes reservations, confirmed operating dates and eligible flight details.

What the project could change for travelers

For customers who value privacy, a separate terminal could remove several crowded steps from departure and arrival. The likely experience would reduce exposure to public check in halls, normal screening lines, busy concourses and baggage claim areas while adding coordinated staff and direct airfield transportation.

The strongest use cases are likely to involve privacy, personal security, a desire for quiet or a high value placed on predictable airport handling. It may also appeal to families or travelers who find large terminals difficult, although accessibility, assistance and companion rules must be confirmed before anyone treats the service as an accommodation solution.

The project is not expected to transform the ordinary terminal experience for most SFO passengers. A relatively small private facility would serve customers who pay for it, while public security, airline counters, AirTrain, parking and normal gate access would continue to handle the airport’s much larger passenger flow.

What travelers should watch next

The first milestone is the October 7 proposal deadline, followed by SFO’s selection and lease process. An operator announcement should reveal the brand, investment plan and more credible construction schedule, while later federal and airline agreements should clarify how the service will handle domestic departures, international arrivals and checked baggage.

Consumer details will matter more than architectural promises. Before paying, travelers will need exact prices, cancellation terms, hours, airline coverage, arrival and departure procedures, baggage limits, transfer timing, companion policies and a clear explanation of what happens when a flight changes gates or experiences a long delay.

The final test will be whether the operator can deliver the promised separation without creating new coordination risk. A calm private room has limited value if passengers must leave unusually early for an airfield transfer, if some airlines do not participate or if international processing is available only during restricted hours.

Decision matrix for the SFO private terminal plan

Your situation	What is true now	Best decision
Flying through SFO in 2026 or 2027	The terminal is not built or bookable.	Use current SFO check in, security and lounge options.
Considering a late 2028 trip	Late 2028 is an airport target, not a confirmed opening date.	Book the flight without relying on private terminal access.
Wanting to avoid the public checkpoint	The plan includes separate official TSA screening.	Wait for operator pricing, eligibility and reservation rules.
Arriving from another country	The plan includes dedicated CBP processing for international arrivals.	Confirm that the exact airline, arrival time and traveler category are supported.
Expecting an airline delay benefit	The private facility does not change the commercial flight schedule.	Keep normal delay protections and connection buffers.
Traveling with family or assistance needs	Companion, child and accessibility procedures are not published.	Do not assume fit until written operating rules are available.