San Jose Mineta International Airport
Silicon Valley's airport, and the South Bay's, from Palo Alto down to San José.
Norman Y. Mineta San José International is in the middle of Silicon Valley. Its territory is the South Bay, Palo Alto to San José and the technology companies in between. For a large share of Bay Area business travel it is nearer than San Francisco, and it carries a stream of corporate and private flying to match the valley.
Who flies here
SJC handles full airline service, and the technology companies around the field keep heavy business-aviation traffic on the same runways. The general-aviation facilities have been rebuilt and expanded in recent years to keep up with the private demand.
On the field
As of mid-2026 the FBOs at San José include Signature Aviation and Atlantic Aviation. There are 2, both on the west side of the field, away from the commercial terminals. Signature developed a large modern general-aviation complex here as part of the airport's recent build-out.
2,550 chickens
San José dedicated its municipal airport in 1949 after a decade of development. The first commercial flight, a Southwest Airways DC-3, carried 7 passengers and 2,550 baby chickens, and only the chickens got off at San José. In 2001 the city added the name of Norman Y. Mineta, the San José native who served as a U.S. Secretary of Transportation and Commerce.
FBO and history details were checked mid-2026 against the airport's and operators' own published information. Tenants change, so confirm the departure terminal with your operator.
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