The suggestion to rename the Oakland International Airport to the “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport” is not being well-received by a nearby airport to the west.
San Francisco International Airport Director Ivar C. Satero expressed his deep concern regarding the proposed renaming in a statement released on Monday. He emphasized the potential for customer confusion and disservice that could arise from this decision.
The Port of Oakland, which oversees the airport, recently unveiled a proposal to enhance awareness of the airport’s location in the San Francisco Bay. This move is intended to highlight the airport’s geographic significance.
Both airports are situated in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a distance of approximately 30 miles between them when traveled by vehicle. Another airport, San Jose Mineta International Airport, is also located in the region, about 35 miles south of both Oakland’s airport and San Francisco International.
San Francisco’s airport, SFO, holds the title of being the largest airport in the Bay Area. Located approximately 13 miles south of the city, it serves as a major transportation hub for the region. On the other hand, Oakland’s airport is situated about 20 miles east of downtown San Francisco, offering an alternative option for travelers in the area.
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‘Confusion for the public’
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San Francisco’s airport, which has been in operation since 1927, has long been known by the name “San Francisco Airport” or “San Francisco International Airport.” This name has become instantly recognizable to customers over the decades, according to Satero’s statement.
According to Satero, the renaming of the Metropolitan Oakland International Airport is expected to create confusion among the public. This confusion could arise due to a misunderstanding of its location or its perceived connection to SFO. The airport officials are particularly concerned about this confusion because of SFO’s status as a prominent international gateway.
OAK airport code would remain the same under proposal
In an online video announcement on Friday, Port Commission President Barbara Leslie confirmed that Oakland’s airport code, OAK, will remain the same and will not undergo any changes.
According to Leslie, our community of local travelers often expresses their desire for an increased number of direct flights to a broader range of domestic and international destinations departing from Oakland.
According to Leslie, a significant number of regular international travelers and a considerable portion of domestic travelers are not aware that OAK is situated “in the heart of Northern California.”
According to her, flights to Oakland have not been performing well, which has resulted in a loss of routes and has made airlines hesitant to add new routes.
According to a press release, Craig Simon, the Interim Director of Aviation at the Port of Oakland, stated that the Airport has both gained and lost a number of routes between July 2008 and March 2024. Specifically, during this period, the Airport added 54 new routes while experiencing the loss of 39 new routes and 6 previously existing destinations.
Oakland defends airport proposed name change
In an effort to safeguard the airport’s 30,000 direct jobs and maintain its $1.6 billion economic impact on the region, the commissioners have announced a strategic plan.
The commissioners also mentioned that Oakland’s airport has received “strong support” from its airline partners in regards to the rebranding.
Jennifer Bridie, Southwest Airlines’ vice president of marketing communications and strategy, expressed wholehearted support for Oakland’s role in putting the airline on the map in California.
Commissioners set to vote on name change next week
The Port officials stated that changing the name of OAK is part of a larger initiative to enhance the overall passenger experience at the airport. This includes various improvements such as:
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- Upgrading the Terminal 1 check-in lobby;
- Upgrading restroom facilities;
- Providing new, local concessions and restaurants.
The airport’s name change will be discussed by the Port Commissioners during their meeting on April 11th.
Natalie Neysa Alund, a senior reporter for USA TODAY, can be reached at [email protected]. Stay updated on her work by following her on X @nataliealund.
