Oakland airport officials unanimously approved adding San Francisco to the Metropolitan Oakland International Airport’s (OAK) name, despite threats made earlier this month by San Francisco officials who claimed they would sue over the matter.
The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners—a regulatory body that governs the airport— approved the name change to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport on April 11, according to a recent press release by the airport officials.
“Every day, hundreds of travelers drive from the East Bay to SFO, passing OAK because they can’t get the flight they need. For the economic health of the region, this must change,” said the Port’s Executive Director Danny Wan. “Our renaming will make travel easier for thousands of people and help grow the local economy.”
The move was endorsed by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, who said the name change would support the economic health of the East Bay.
“We must look out for the well-being of our communities and the economic health of the East Bay. The airport is an economic engine for our region, and the renaming will protect and create jobs,” said Alameda Supervisor Lena Tam.
But the change may not come easily, with possible legal action threatened according to an April 8 letter sent to the port commissioners by the San Francisco city attorney.
“Should you continue in these efforts, I intend to pursue legal action to prevent your use of the proposed new name,” including possible trademark infringement, City Attorney David Chiu wrote to commissioners.
In a Thursday statement Mr. Chiu said updates on possible legal action will come within days.
“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 day,” he said, according to media reports.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) officials also warned the name change could confuse fliers.
Airport Director Ivar C. Satero said in an April 1 statement the airport’s name has been around since 1927, making it “immediately recognizable” to travelers and advised against such a change.
“Given this history, we anticipate the new name being considered by the Metropolitan Oakland International Airport will cause confusion for the public, either through a misunderstanding of its physical location or its perceived relationship to SFO,” he said. “This concern is only compounded considering SFO’s status as a major international gateway.”
In a back and forth spat, Oakland International Airport officials said in their own statement April 2 “no one owns the title to the San Francisco Bay” and that Oakland’s airport is the closest to more than 58 percent of the San Francisco Bay Area’s population.
They added in the same statement the change would, in part, create more direct flights to domestic and global destinations out of the Bay Area.
“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 Port of Oakland Interim Director of Aviation Craig Simon in the statement.
The change is needed as the airport has lost 39 of 54 new routes since 2008, Mr. Simon said, adding that it has also lost six longer established routes over the same time.
The name change received support from some of those in the business community, trade, and travel partners in Oakland, the Tri-Valley, and Berkeley, according to the recent press release announcing the approval.
Supporters include , several Oakland-area chambers of commerce and tourism promoters.
The change will also improve passenger experience, officials said, including upgrades to Terminal 1’s check-in lobby and restrooms and creating new local concessions and restaurants.
Final approval will be complete May 9 and airport staff will then work on the formal renaming, including working with air carriers, other airports, and local agencies to reflect the name change in airline systems, they said. The airport code OAK and brand image will remain the same, they added.
