‘Will cause confusion’: San Francisco airport officials push back against Oakland airport’s proposed name change
Officials with the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) have expressed serious concerns over the nearby city of Oakland’s proposal to change the name of its own airport. The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has expressed concerns over the proposal to change the name of its Oakland airport, which is currently referred to as "San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport". The change is intended to increase inbound travelers' awareness of the airport's location on the San Francisco Bay and encourage more airlines to add direct routes to Oakland. However, SFO officials have expressed concern that the change could lead to customer confusion and inconvenience. Barbara Leslie, president of the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners, has supported the proposal, stating it will protect the airport’s over 30,000 good-paying, direct jobs and $1.6 billion in economic impact on the region. Some travelers at the Oakland airport also opposed the name change.
Published : a month ago by Alex Baker in Travel
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – Officials with the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) have expressed serious concerns over the nearby city of Oakland’s proposal to change the name of its own airport.
Last week, Barbara Leslie, the president of the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners, announced her support for changing the Oakland airport’s name from “Metropolitan Oakland International Airport” to “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.”
The proposed change is intended to “boost inbound travelers’ geographic awareness of the airport’s location on the San Francisco Bay” and ultimately entice more airlines to add direct routes to Oakland, Leslie said in a video message released Friday.
“This will protect our airport’s over 30,000 good-paying, direct jobs and $1.6 billion in economic impact on the region,” she added.
But on Monday, officials at SFO expressed concern that the name change could lead to “the potential for customer confusion and disservice.”
“SFO has operated since 1927 and has used the name ‘San Francisco Airport’ or ‘San Francisco International Airport’ for most of its history, making it immediately recognizable to customers,” said SFO Airport Director Ivar C. Sateros. “Given this history, we anticipate the new name being considered by the Metropolitan Oakland International Airport will cause confusion for the public, either through a misunderstanding of its physical location or its perceived relationship to SFO.”
“We request Metropolitan Oakland International Airport not proceed with any name change that would incorporate the use of ‘San Francisco,’ as this would only result in confusion and inconvenience to the traveling public we all serve,” SFO officials added.
State Sen. Scott Weiner also expressed reservations about the proposed name change, writing on X, “I love Oakland, but Oakland is Oakland. It’s not San Francisco. Oakland’s airport should nut be cutting & pasting San Francisco International Airport into its name. Please find another way to turn things around.”
Some travelers at the Oakland airport, too, opposed the name change.
“It’s very dumb to change the name. We have problems losing sports teams and everything,” said one traveler who spoke with Nexstar’s KRON. “Now we want to change the [airport] name? That’s dumb.”
“I agree with him, it’s going to be very confusing,” said a fellow traveler. “They need to fix the city. Don’t change the name.”
Despite opposition to adding “San Francisco Bay” to the name of the Oakland airport, it wouldn’t be inaccurate. The facility is located just across the San Francisco Bay from SFO — which itself isn’t even in San Francisco, but rather San Bruno.
Officials with the Port of Oakland have also said that confusion about Oakland’s location is leading to missed tourism opportunities.
“Oakland consistently hears from local travelers about their desire for more direct flights to domestic and global destinations,” read a statement from Port of Oakland officials. “To make this happen, travelers who live outside the region need to learn that OAK is located in the San Francisco Bay Area and close to the region’s top destinations.”
“Market research and interviews with airline partners have shown that routes have not performed as well as they should have due to the lack of geographic awareness, making air carriers reluctant to suspect and add new routes in Oakland,” added Port of Oakland Interim Director of Aviation Craig Simon.
The airport’s airport code, OAK, and visual brand will not change if the proposal is approved, according to port officials.
The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners will consider the name change at a meeting on April 11. If the Port Commission approves the change, airport staff will work to formally rename the airport.