Two neighboring California cities are clashing over the name change of a local airport, leaving passengers confused and accidentally showing up at the wrong departure location.
San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu on Tuesday filed a preliminary motion against the recently renamed Oakland airport, alleging trademark infringement due to similarities between the new name and that of San Francisco’s airport.
Oakland Airport, which still retains its original call letters OAK, recently changed its name from Oakland International Airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.
The name change has caused confusion among some travelers, since across the bay is San Francisco International Airport, called SFO. The name change has led to “several incidents,” including passengers arriving at the wrong airport, said Ivar C. Satero, SFO Airport’s president.
“We are already seeing confusion among travelers about the use of Oakland’s new name,” Chiu said in a proposition“This was completely foreseeable and preventable. We tried to reason with Oakland officials to avoid litigation and come up with alternative names that would work for all of us.
San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu on Tuesday filed a preliminary motion against the recently renamed Oakland airport, alleging trademark infringement due to similarities between the new name and that of San Francisco’s airport.
Oakland Airport, which still has its original call letters OAK, recently changed its name from Oakland International Airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport
The two airports are located directly across from each other in San Francisco Bay
‘Unfortunately, those efforts have been fruitless and we have no choice but to ask the court to intervene and protect our trademark.’
Chiu claims that Oakland is trying to copy SFO’s “world class” status.
“We’ve built an incredible brand that we need to protect,” Chiu said. “Oakland has a trademark for Oakland International Airport. They should use that and stay away from the San Francisco brand.”
Oakland defended the name change, saying it was necessary to let travelers — especially tourists — know that SFO is not the only option for getting to San Francisco.
“Nobody owns San Francisco Bay,” said Barbara Leslie, second vice chair of the Port of Oakland Board of Commissioners, ABC7“The port is the manager of 20 miles of land along San Francisco Bay.”
The Port of Oakland alleges that Chiu’s actions are an “attempt to stifle competition and travel opportunities for Bay Area residents and position SFO as the only airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area.”
It is not [the only airport]“OAK will continue to aggressively pursue its position on the San Francisco Bay,” a spokesperson told ABC 7.
The name change has caused confusion among some travelers, as San Francisco International Airport is located directly across the bay. The name change has resulted in “multiple incidents,” including passengers arriving at the wrong airport.
Chiu claims that Oakland is trying to imitate SFO’s “world class” status: “Oakland has a trademark for Oakland International Airport. It should use that and stay away from San Francisco’s brand” (Photo: SFO)
“It’s about making travelers aware of the choices they have when traveling to and from the nine counties of the San Francisco Bay Area,” port attorney Mary Richardson told ABC 7.
Oakland hopes the new name will lead to increased foot traffic at the airport, allowing passengers to take more direct flights.
The name change was approved by the Oakland Board of Commissioners in May, and SFO filed a federal lawsuit against the rival airport in May. Oakland has since filed a counterclaim against SFO but has “not yet received a response,” Richardson said.
Unlike SFO’s lawsuit, Chiu’s petition, if granted, would prevent Oakland from using the new name.
Paolo Sambrano, an Easy Bay resident who grew up in Oakland, believes the airport should return to its roots.
“I think it really hurts the identity of Oakland,” he told ABC 7. “I was born and raised in Oakland and I think this is a real slap in the face.”
Pam Geffinger, a tourist from Nevada, said she didn’t understand why they would change the name at all.
“San Francisco is San Francisco, Oakland’s Oakland,” he said. “I can’t imagine why they think they have to put San Francisco in the name of their airport.”
SF port found two reports of Spirit Airlines passengers arriving at SFO, a location where the airline has no presence, when they should have been going to Oakland.
An X user advised people flying to San Francisco to “check the three-letter code of their airport before they leave.”
Many thought it was “insanely stupid” to add San Francisco to the name.
“I can’t fathom how completely negligent the board was in making this decision,” said one user wrote on the apron. ‘Oakland International Airport is the fifth busiest of all Class C airports in the United States and has more traffic than Portland, San Antonio and Indianapolis.
“Oakland has an airport with a higher utilization rate than any other airport in the state of Oregon, yet management wants to focus on SF. Unbelievable!”
“Just use Oakland Airport, that’s what it’s been for almost a century.” wrote.
Another criticized the city’s safety standards, to write: “The name change does nothing to eliminate the crime that makes Oakland unsafe, and will cause MANY businesses near Oakland Airport to close their doors.”