Federal Judge Rules Against Oakland Airport Using San Francisco in New Name

Southwest Airlines plane at Oakland International Airport. (Photo Credit: Tom Nast/Adobe)

A federal judge has issued an order blocking Oakland International Airport's recently approved name change to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.

Oakland and San Francisco began a legal battle months ago after city officials in Oakland proposed the name change to give the city a new identity.

The name change prompted the city and county of San Francisco to file a motion alleging trademark infringement.

In a ruling this week, U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Hixson sided with San Francisco, arguing that the new name would confuse travelers considering San Francisco International Airport is located just 30 miles away.

"In the United States the name of a city is normally in the name of an airport only if the city owns or partially owns that airport, the new name for the Oakland airport strongly implies affiliation with San Francisco and the San Francisco International Airport [SFO]," he stated in his order.

"The public interest is best served by not confusing customers."

A spokesperson told Reuters that the Port of Oakland is "continuing to review the recent ruling and considering all available options," which include appealing the recent ruling.

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