The process to rename Oakland International Airport has begun.
The port of Oakland has
approved the name change to San Francisco Bay-Oakland
International Airport.
The port’s Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the resolution;
a final vote will take place on May 9.
City officials believe it would create awareness and visibility
for Oakland if visitors knew that the city was located
just across the bridge in San Francisco Bay. It will still keep its airport
designation code of OAK. But it won’t change the location of the airport, which
is in a high crime area of Oakland, which has prompted many restaurants to
close their chains near the airport.
And it won’t change the feeling of many officials from San
Francisco International Airport, which believe it would lead to confusion among
passengers. The city of San Francisco has threatened legal action against the
port.
San Francisco city officials believe it would be too confusing
San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu criticized the proposal.
"San Francisco owns two different trademarks," said
Jen Kwart, Chiu's spokeswoman. "It owns San Francisco International
Airport and it also owns the SFO logo and design. We feel really confident that
the new name will infringe on those."
The idea is in its early stages.
It is not known if the Federal Aviation Administration, or
another government entity, will step in to help resolve any disputes.
Having multiple airports service one city is not uncommon. New
York, Chicago and Miami immediately come to mind. New York City has LaGuardia
and John F. Kennedy International, and Newark Airport, which is located in New
Jersey. Chicago has Midway and O’Hare. And only about 26 miles separate Miami
International Airport from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood.
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