PORT OF OAKLAND OFFICIALS are taking another swing at renaming the city’s airport, announcing that they are now considering Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport.
It’s the port’s latest attempt at incorporating San Francisco in a new name for Oakland International Airport. Last fall, a federal judge sided with San Francisco officials who were concerned over the port’s plans to rename it San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport — saying it infringed on their trademark for San Francisco International Airport and confused travelers.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Hixson’s ruling in November blocked the use of the new name in advertising, marketing or other services related to the airport until the pending trial on the lawsuit between the two cities is resolved.
On Friday, a San Francisco city attorney’s spokesperson said their office is weighing the Port’s new proposed name.
“We are just learning about this development and will assess any next steps to ensure San Francisco International Airport’s trademark is protected,” city attorney’s spokesperson Jen Kwart said.
Port officials maintain a new name for the East Bay airport should reflect both its Oakland identity and its proximity to San Francisco Bay. The port’s board of commissioners will consider the new name at their July 10 meeting.
“We are proud to be a central gateway to the Bay Area, and we’re proud to embrace a name that reflects both our local roots and regional reach,” said Craig Simon, director of aviation at the Port of Oakland.
Simon sent a letter Friday about the new proposed name to SFO Airport Director Mike Nakornkhet.
The port still believes that incorporating San Francisco into the airport’s name doesn’t infringe on the city’s trademark. The new name is both responsive to the court’s order and San Francisco officials’ concerns about the previous proposed name, Simon said.
The new name doesn’t include the entire SFO title, and doesn’t start with San Francisco, but leads with Oakland.
“Many other airports use similar naming conventions to indicate geographic location or proximity,” Simon said. “Given these changes, the city should not have any concerns about any purported potential for consumer confusion regarding the proposed name.”
The three-letter OAK code, and the I Fly OAK logo and branding would remain the same, he said.
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