Port of Oakland officials voted Thursday to change the name of the city’s airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport, despite a threat of lawsuit by San Francisco for what he calls trademark infringement.
The Board of Commissioners voted unanimously at a meeting Thursday evening to approve changing the current name, Oakland International Airport. The OAK airport code and visual branding will not change, port officials said.
“We are championing Oakland and the East Bay; this will enhance inbound travelers’ geographic awareness of the airport by highlighting the airport’s location on the San Francisco Bay.” Port Commission Chairwoman Barbara Leslie said in a press release issued by the Port of Oakland. “This name will make it clear that OAK is the closest major airport, serving 4.1 million residents, three national laboratories, the nation’s premier public university and California’s wine country.”
The board has scheduled a second reading and vote on the issue for the May 9 board meeting, which would make the change official.
After the vote, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu confirmed he would fight the move in court.
“We are disappointed that Oakland did not take the opportunity to work collaboratively with us to develop alternative names and we now have no choice but to take legal action,” Chiu said in a statement Thursday.
In response, Port of Oakland attorney Mary Richardson issued her own statement.
“The port’s proposed name change does not infringe on SFO’s brand. SFO cannot claim the geographically descriptive term ‘San Francisco,’ much less claim exclusive rights to San Francisco Bay,” the statement said. communicated. “The Port is confident that travelers understand that the San Francisco Bay Area – like virtually every other major metropolitan area in the world – can contain more than one airport. The Port will take all reasonable steps to ensure clarity for travelers at this time. which relates to OAK’s geographical location, location and distinctiveness.
The name controversy first appeared on March 29 when Oakland International Airport officials first made the idea public. in hopes of increasing the number of passengers traveling to and from the East Bay.
The idea was encountered retaliation from San Francisco International Airport officials and the city itself.
Oakland International Officials defended the name changesaying the airport has garnered support from local East Bay politicians, including Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao.
“The name change will use our region’s primary geographic feature to identify its location, the San Francisco Bay Area,” said Craig Simon, the airport’s interim aviation director. “It’s not about the City and County of San Francisco, or San Mateo County, it’s about our region and creating jobs in Oakland and throughout the East Bay. No one has the title of San Francisco Bay.”
Earlier this week, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu warned of a possible trial.
“If you continue with these efforts, I intend to take legal action to prevent your use of the proposed new name,” Chiu said in a letter to Port of Oakland commissioners.
He argued that the proposal to change the official name would infringe on San Francisco International Airport’s trademarks.
“The City has held these records for so long that they have become indisputable under federal law,” Chiu said. “Indeed, there is only one airport in the United States that uses “San Francisco” in its name.”
The city attorney also argued that a name change would cause confusion for travelers.
San Mateo County officials have also spoken out against the idea.
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