Port Board Votes to Change Name of Oakland’s Airport To ‘San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport’

The Port of Oakland’s Board of Commissioners noted unanimously to change the name of Oakland International Airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport during a meeting on Thursday, all but assuring a lawsuit from the City of San Francisco in the coming days.

The name change plan from “Oakland International Airport” to “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport” was released in late March, as the Globe reported. According to Oakland Airport officials, the airport’s name is often confusing for travelers, as the name of the airport fails to give the impression just how close the airport is to San Francisco. That lack of understanding, according to airport officials, have also cost the airport major airline routes and passengers. While officials have said that the airport will not be changing their airport code away from OAK or any Oakland visual branding, it would create an overall identity change.

However, San Francisco and San Francisco Airport officials quickly denounced the name proposal, saying it would only confuse travelers with a mix up over the San Francisco Airport name. Many travelers would also likely book wrongly because of the name change, constituting lost connections and a long travel distance between airports.

Oakland officials, angered by the higher than expected backlash against the idea, changed tactics this week and said that the name was now geographic. In a press release, the Port of Oakland also gathered some local officials to make statements on the benefits of the name change. However, as the Globe pointed out, opposition against the name change only grew all across the Bay, with early warnings of possible legal challenges being given to Oakland authorities.

The Port of Oakland remained stubborn over the weekend, planning to move ahead with the name change vote. They even sent out messages over X/Twitter trying to show why the name change is still good for them. This led to San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu to announce on Monday that the city of San Francisco would sue the Port of Oakland should a proposed name change of Oakland’s airport goes through on Thursday, charging that the name change would be violating the trademark of “San Francisco International Airport,” as well as being confusing for travelers in the region.

Despite the impending lawsuit and the majority of Bay area residents and lawmakers being against the name change, the Port of Oakland went ahead and approved the new name on Thursday in a unanimous vote.

“We are standing up for Oakland and the East Bay,” said Port Commission President Barbara Leslie in a statement. “This will boost inbound travelers’ geographic awareness of the airport by highlighting the airport’s location on the San Francisco Bay. This name will make it clear that OAK is the closest major airport, for 4.1 million people, three national laboratories, the top public university in the country, and California’s Wine Country.”

Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan added that “I’m very pleased with today’s unanimous Board approval, especially as a proud Oaklander myself who wants to enhance economic activity and local jobs for Oakland. We are grateful for the ongoing support of the East Bay business community, along with our trade and travel partners representing Oakland, Berkeley, Walnut Creek, and the Tri-Valley as well as the thousands of businesses that they represent. These companies know that having more choices and flight options are good for the entire Bay Area.”

Click the link below to read Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan’s editorial about how the Oakland airport name change will boost the Bay Area’s economy: https://t.co/WzZ0461tJn #BestWayToSanFranciscoBay pic.twitter.com/RwureRJu4Z

— Port of Oakland (@PortofOakland) April 11, 2024

However, instead of praise for the name change, the Port of Oakland was bombarded with negative comments from both residents and lawmakers alike.

“Oakland just needs to admit the real PR reason,” said one X user. “As much as S.F is getting a bad rap based on bad governance, NO one wants to go to Oakland. Chance of getting victimized just refueling your rental car.”

Oakland just needs to admit the real PR reason. As much as S.F is getting a bad rap based on bad governance, NO one wants to go to Oakland. Chance of getting victimized just refueling your rental car.

— OrLinaryjoe 做好事 (@orLinaryjoe) April 11, 2024

In a statement, Chiu foreshadowed an upcoming legal and political fight, saying that “We are disappointed that Oakland did not take the opportunity to work collaboratively with us to develop alternative names and to avoid litigation. We will have further updates in the coming days.”

The Oakland NAACP also expressed disappointment, adding that “While some officials may see the renaming as a simple rebranding effort, we view it as a reflection of ongoing gentrification in Oakland.”

While a second reading of the resolution and a final vote will take place on May 9th, the Port may have to face not only a lawsuit but also possibly an injunction halting the name change instead of a switch over.

“All the people at the Port of Oakland who think that this name change is good, well, they don’t know what they’re doing,” noted London-based airport and airport terminal expert Alistair Jones to the Globe on Thursday. “Here around London, airports wanting to use London in their name went through years of negotiations to have that happen, as Heathrow didn’t want confusion. So there is London Heathrow, London Gatwick and so on. In the states, places like New York and Chicago with multiple airports have the same principle. The LA area goes by city, but uses LA in advertisements to avoid this problem so it isn’t an issue. Burbank, Ontario, Long Beach, and Orange County are all distinct from LAX, don’t have the Los Angeles name in their airport, but are free to advertise as such.

“What Oakland is doing is, forgive the pun, just plain wrong. The name is too close to San Francisco’s airport, and I have it on good authority that San Francisco would easily win such a court case. Oakland should have focused on an advertising effort and changed their name to something more unique to fit region. Name it after someone deserving from the area. Or, better yet, work with San Francisco to try and figure out a name that would please everyone, like other cities have done.

“This is not going to end well for Oakland. They’re in the wrong legally, they’re going to confuse passengers, and most shamefully, they’re trying to avoid the name Oakland. They say it is for economic reasons and geographic reasons, but ad campaigns could easily correct that. Highlight flights that point out cheaper flights and getting to areas quicker than San Francisco International. Point out the ease of travel. Burbank airport in the Los Angeles area did that. Midway has done this in Chicago. Love in Dallas. The list goes on. But they did the stupidest thing possible. And now they’re going to face legal battles, public scorn, and really just overwhelmingly negativity because of it.”

An announcement from San Francisco regarding a lawsuit is expected soon.