Summary

  • SFO authorities have started recording the number of passengers showing up at the airport instead of OAK airport.
  • OAK airport claims the change in name will help clarify the location for travelers and hopefully increase connectivity.
  • Airlines such as Southwest, Spirit, and Volaris support the change in airport name.

In recent months, staff at San Francisco International Airport have started recording the number of passengers seen at the airport because of confusion caused by Oakland Airport changing its name earlier this year. The change in the name of Oakland Airport has even resulted in San Francisco City’s attorney filing a trademark infringement lawsuit against the city of Oakland.

Confused passengers at SFO!

Located on the western bank of the San Francisco Bay, the

San Francisco International Airport

(SFO) has traditionally been known as the primary airport for the city of San Francisco. However, earlier this year, the Metropolitan

Oakland International Airport

(OAK), which is located in Oakland and, more specifically, along the east bank of the San Francisco Bay, decided to change its name to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.

The airport authorities state that adding geographical accuracy to the airport can raise travelers’ awareness and help the airport gain more direct connections, both domestically and internationally.

The airport code (OAK) and branding will remain the same.

Since the change in OAK’s name, SFGate reports that the SFO airport authorities have seen a number of passengers show up at the airport, assuming their flight was from SFO instead of OAK.

Reports suggest that between June 18th and July 1st, SFO recorded six cases of confused passengers. Some passengers were meant to be flying with airlines that do not currently serve SFO, and the other passengers had tickets to destinations that are not currently connected to SFO by direct flights.

Reasons for the new name

While SFO officials have previously stated that such a name change of OAK could lead to passengers being confused between the two airports, the OAK officials defended their actions, stating that with the new name change, the airport will clarify to its passengers the location of the airport and that it could potentially lead to more nonstop services to the airport.

Despite the name change leading to confused passengers at SFO, officials at OAK stated that they have not recorded any such incidents since the name change.

SFO OAK FlightRadar24

Though the two airports are close by, showing up at the wrong airport is the last thing any passenger would want to deal with when they have plans to fly. As such, the attorney for the city of San Francisco filed a federal trademark infringement lawsuit against the city of Oakland in April. In response to this, in a press release, it was stated that the Port of Oakland seeks court confirmation as the change of name does not constitute trademark infringement.

Supported by airlines

The name change of OAK has reportedly been welcomed by passengers using the airport and airline partners.

Southwest Airlines

, the largest operator at the airport, has stated that the airport will have the airline’s support when it comes to changing its name. Similar support has been shown by other low-cost operators at the airport as well, such as

Spirit Airlines

.

Considering the airport has lost several of its routes in the past decade, the airport forecasts that the change in name will help increase connectivity.

Southwest 737 MAX 8 flying

Photo: Dorengo5 | Shutterstock

Data shows that the airport has lost over 40 routes in the past 16 years. However, in recent years, the airport has also seen an increase in international traffic, recording an increase of 42.1% in January 2024 when compared to the same period in 2023.

International carriers, such as the Mexican carrier

Volaris

, which connects OAK with five destinations, have also supported the airport’s name change.

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