Originally Posted by Palal
This is not a "feature." It is a feature.
. You need crossing runways for different wind conditions.
As for SFO, we need the intersecting runways for varying wind conditions.
However, the intersecting runways are used mostly to increase capacity. SFO frequently uses both sets of runways at the same time (one set for taking off, the other set for landing). Which means that if the weather conditions require using only one set (or landing planes one at a time because the parallel ones in a set are too close together), delays are very likely.