San Francisco has ended a two-year legal dispute with its neighboring city across the Bay, allowing Oakland to incorporate “San Francisco” in its airport’s name under specific conditions. The settlement, disclosed on Tuesday, permits Oakland’s airport to be named “Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport” but prohibits any emphasis on “San Francisco” or “San Francisco Bay” through fonts, colors, or other means. Additionally, the agreement mandates that Oakland must use the term “Bay” immediately after “San Francisco” and refrains from using “International” despite offering international flights.
The disagreement arose in 2024 when Oakland, a diverse port city often viewed as the underdog compared to its wealthier neighbor, altered its airport’s name to “San Francisco-Oakland Bay Airport,” prompting a lawsuit from San Francisco officials citing trademark infringement.
Oakland authorities explained that the name change was necessary to assist travelers unfamiliar with the region in identifying the city within the Bay Area. They noted that visitors frequently land at San Francisco’s airport even when Oakland airport is closer across the bay. Notably, the airport’s OAK three-letter code remained unchanged.
Mary Richardson, attorney for the Port of Oakland managing the airport, expressed pride in preserving the airport’s full name that prioritizes Oakland and acknowledges its location on the San Francisco Bay. San Francisco contended that including “San Francisco” in Oakland’s airport name would lead to confusion among travelers, particularly those arriving from abroad or unfamiliar with the Bay Area. However, San Francisco officials adopted a more conciliatory tone on Tuesday.
San Francisco International Airport Director Mike Nakornkhet stated, “We are appreciative of reaching a resolution in this matter. This agreement ensures clarity for travelers in making informed travel decisions through our respective airports.” Notably, neither party admitted liability, and there was no financial settlement.
Oakland’s airport is situated approximately 20 kilometers east of San Francisco and roughly 48 kilometers from San Francisco International Airport, known as SFO.
