San Francisco Says I Told You, Sues Oakland Over Airport Name

The city says including ‘San Francisco’ in the name is trademark infringement. Oakland says, ‘‘No one owns the title to the San Francisco Bay.’

Travelers wait to board a Southwest Airlines flight at the airport now known as San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport on April 9, 2020. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Following through on earlier threats, San Francisco has sued Oakland saying the new name for its airport, which includes “San Francisco,” amounts to federal trademark infringement.

Oakland airport officials on April 11 unanimously approved renaming Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK),  making it San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport, despite a warning from San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu earlier this month.