A pair of neighboring California cities are at war over a local airport name change that has left passengers confused and accidentally arriving at the wrong departure location.
San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu on Tuesday filed a preliminary injunction against the recently renamed Oakland Airport for trademark infringement due to similarities between the new name and that of San Francisco’s airport.
Oakland Airport, which has retained its initials OAK, recently changed its name from Oakland International Airport to San Francisco Bay International Airport in Oakland.
The name change has caused confusion for some travelers, as San Francisco International Airport, which has the acronym SFO, is located across the bay. The name change has led to “multiple incidents,” including passengers showing up at the wrong airport, according to SFO Airport Director Ivar C. Satero.
“We are already seeing confusion among travelers about the use of Oakland’s new name,” Chiu said in a statement. statement“This was entirely foreseeable and avoidable. We attempted to reason with Oakland officials to avoid litigation and find alternative names that would work for all of us.
San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu on Tuesday filed a preliminary motion against Oakland’s recently renamed airport for trademark infringement over similarities between the new name and that of San Francisco’s airport.
Oakland Airport, which has retained its original OAK acronym, recently changed its name from Oakland International Airport to San Francisco Bay International Airport in Oakland.
“Unfortunately, those efforts were not productive and we have no choice but to ask the court to intervene and protect our trademark.”
Chiu argues that Oakland is trying to emulate SFO’s “world-class” status.
“We’ve created an incredible brand that we need to protect,” Chiu said. “Oakland has a trademark for Oakland International Airport. It should use that and stay away from San Francisco’s brand.”
Oakland has 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.
“No one owns San Francisco Bay,” said Barbara Leslie, second vice president of the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners. ABC 7‘The port operates and manages 20 miles of land along San Francisco Bay.’
The Port of Oakland has said Chiu’s actions are an “attempt to stifle competition and travel options for Bay Area residents and position SFO as the only airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area.”
The name change has caused confusion for some travelers, as San Francisco International Airport is located across the bay. The name change has led to “multiple incidents,” including passengers showing up at the wrong airport.
Chiu argues 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 branding.” (Pictured: SFO)
The two airports are located across from each other in San Francisco Bay.
“It’s not (the only airport) and OAK will continue to aggressively fight for its position in the San Francisco Bay Area,” a spokesperson told ABC 7.
“This is about making travelers aware of the options they have when traveling to and from the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area,” Port Attorney Mary Richardson told ABC 7.
Oakland hopes the rebranding will generate more foot traffic at the airport, which could provide more direct flight options for passengers.
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 countersuit against SFO, but has “not yet received a response,” according to Richardson.
Unlike SFO’s lawsuit, Chiu’s petition, if approved, would immediately prevent Oakland from using the new name.
Easy Bay resident Paolo Sambrano, who grew up in Oakland, believes the airport should return to its roots.
“I think this really erodes a lot of Oakland’s identity,” she told ABC 7. “I was born and raised in Oakland and I think it’s a real slap in the face.”
Pam Geffinger, a tourist from Nevada, said she didn’t understand why they would change the name.
“San Francisco is San Francisco, Oakland is Oakland,” he said. “I can’t imagine why they think they need to put San Francisco in the name of their airport.”
Gate of Saint Francis I found two reports of Spirit Airlines passengers arriving at SFO, which is not home to the airline, when they should have been going to Oakland.