Other Bay Area airports lag behind SFO in holiday traffic growth

"In November, around 831,000 passengers traveled through San Jose Mineta International, a 13% decrease from the same period in 2024 when it welcomed almost 955,000 passengers. Airport spokesperson Ana Maria State told SFGATE in an email that the decline "align[s] with airline capacity adjustments across the Bay Area and broader market trends." "Airlines at SJC and across the country continue to recalibrate seat capacity and strategies to better match passenger demand," State said."

"OAK has taken a few steps to attract more travelers to the smaller, more convenient airport, including a controversial name change to Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport in July. Though airport officials hoped the change would affirm OAK's location in the Bay Area in the minds of travelers, travel analyst and aviation researcher Henry Harteveldt told SFGATE that the likely culprits for OAK's traffic declines are the affordability crisis and the airport's populous carriers."

In November 2025, San Jose Mineta International handled about 831,000 passengers, a 13% decline from nearly 955,000 in the same month a year earlier. The decline aligns with airline capacity adjustments across the Bay Area and broader market trends as carriers recalibrate seat capacity to match demand. Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport saw roughly 704,000 travelers in November, down nearly 12% year-over-year and 34% from November 2019. The downturn has been linked primarily to a drop in intra-California business travel. OAK has pursued measures to boost traffic, including a controversial July name change and incentive programs to attract carriers. Budget carrier mix and affordability pressures have also been cited as contributing factors.

Read at SFGATE