SFO Earns Top Award, Advanced Accreditation for HR Programs from Airports Council International

SFO Earns Top Award, Advanced Accreditation for HR Programs from Airports Council International

Airport honored for workforce development, retention programs

SAN FRANCISCO - June 25, 2026 - Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA), the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada, has honored San Francisco International Airport (SFO) with the overall award for human resource programs. In their 2026 Excellence in Human Resources Recognition Awards, ACI-NA awarded SFO the "Overall Human Resources Program Award". ACI-NA also awarded SFO Level 3 Accreditation for Airport Workforce Development, having been one of the first five airports in the nation to receive accreditation in 2025.

"Human resources departments at airports across North America are essential to building our industry's thriving workforce," said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. "The work that both San Francisco International Airport and Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority have put into developing strong, beneficial programs that invest in talent is truly commendable. I applaud their admirable efforts and look forward to watching as they continue to shape the future leaders of aviation."

"Our mission is to deliver an airport experience where people and planet come first," said SFO Airport Director Mike Nakornkhet. "Every aspect of our human resource programs supports this effort, including succession planning, performance and professional development, change management, wellness, equity, and inclusion. We are especially grateful to Airports Council International - North America for this honor and to our People, Performance, and Development team for their leadership and hard work in helping make this achievement possible."

Over the past year, SFO's People, Performance, and Development (PPD) team achieved a 95% retention rate and over 350 new hires, while also reorganizing to integrate all human resources teams into one unified function, ensuring stronger alignment between individual growth, workforce planning, and organizational objectives.

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