Oakland's airport considers adding 'San Francisco' to its name. San Francisco isn't happy about it
Oakland's airport is considering a name-change to include “San Francisco” to attract more passengers
SAN FRANCISCO — The Oakland International Airport may add “San Francisco" to it's name to attract more passengers, but its neighbors across the Bay have slammed the possible rebrand.
The Board of Commissioners for the Port of Oakland will take up the question at its meeting on Thursday.
Oakland airport officials say travelers unfamiliar with the region fly into San Francisco's airport even if their destination is closer to the East Bay airport. Modifying the name to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport will change that, they say. The airport's three-letter code OAK would not change.
“Market research and interviews with airline partners have shown that routes have not performed as well as they should have due to the lack of geographic awareness, making air carriers reluctant to sustain and add new routes in Oakland,” said Craig Simon, the Port of Oakland's interim aviation director, in a statement.
He said the airport, officially known as the Metropolitan Oakland International Airport, lost 39 of 54 new routes added from July 2008 to March 2024.
But the possibility of a name-change has horrified San Francisco officials, who say it will confuse travelers, especially those flying in from abroad. Ivar C. Satero, director of San Francisco’s airport, said they are “deeply concerned” over the potential for customer confusion and disservice. San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu on Tuesday threatened to sue Oakland officials if they pursue the name-change, arguing it would violate the city's trademark on “San Francisco International Airport.”
San Francisco “has held these registrations for such a long time that
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