The Oakland International Airport is considering a name change that has sparked controversy across the Bay. The potential rebrand would add “San Francisco” to the airport’s name in an effort to attract more passengers, but San Francisco officials are not on board with the idea.
The Board of Commissioners for the Port of Oakland will discuss the proposed name change at their meeting on Thursday. Oakland airport officials argue that adding “San Francisco” to the name will help travelers who are unfamiliar with the region and often mistakenly fly into San Francisco’s airport even when their destination is closer to Oakland.
However, San Francisco officials are strongly opposed to the idea, citing concerns about potential confusion for travelers, especially those flying in from abroad. San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu has even threatened to sue Oakland officials if they move forward with the name change, claiming it would violate San Francisco’s trademark on “San Francisco International Airport.”
The debate has sparked a heated discussion among local officials and residents. State Sen. Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco, has voiced his opposition to the name change, stating that Oakland should find another way to attract passengers without “cutting & pasting” San Francisco’s name.
Despite the backlash, some have pointed out that San Francisco’s airport is actually located in Millbrae, not in the city of San Francisco itself. This has led to some lighthearted jokes on social media, with one person suggesting that the San Francisco 49ers should also consider a name change since they play in Santa Clara, not San Francisco.
The decision on whether or not to rename the Oakland International Airport to include “San Francisco” in its title remains to be seen, but it is clear that the proposal has stirred up strong opinions on both sides of the debate.
