Oakland airport changes name again amid ongoing legal battle

Home
»
Stories
»
2025
»
July

GLOBAL INDUSTRY NEWS

Qatar Airways In Talks To Buy 20% Of Virgin Australia - Airline Ratings

Boeing Will Buy Spirit AeroSystems For $4.7 Billion In Stock & Airbus Enters $559 Million Agreement For Its Parts

Bombardier Global Jet Production Stops in Toronto as Union Workers Strike | AIN

Justice Department To Offer Boeing a Plea Deal Related to Max Crashes

Plane diverted to Brazil after turbulence injures 30

Global Industry News

Oakland airport changes name again amid ongoing legal battle

Policy

Craig Simon, director of aviation at Port of Oakland | Port of Oakland

By Sky Industry News

Jul 30, 2025

Oakland International Airport has finalized a name change, now to be known as "Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport." This decision follows an earlier attempt to adopt the name "San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport," which was blocked by San Francisco. The move aims to increase recognition and attract more passengers.

The Port of Oakland approved the new name on July 24 after two rounds of voting and spending over $150,000 on the initial change. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will update its systems, and the Port of Oakland will notify IATA for further updates by GDS providers like Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport.

The City of San Francisco plans to continue its legal case against this change, arguing it infringes on copyrights held by San Francisco International Airport. Despite the new name, Oakland's designations remain "OAK" and "KOAK."

Get the Newsletter

Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News

By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Craig Simon, director of aviation at the Port of Oakland, told NBC News Bay Area: "We are proud to be a central gateway to the Bay Area, and we're proud to embrace a name that reflects both our local roots and regional reach."

Oakland first attempted a name change in 2024 but faced legal challenges from San Francisco. The goal is to enhance brand awareness by associating with the broader Bay Area. While initially similar to San Francisco International Airport's name leading to legal disputes, this increased publicity for Oakland.

Several airlines had cut routes from Oakland in recent years due in part to COVID-19 but have since resumed growth with new flights added. Southwest Airlines dominates operations at Oakland with an over 80% market share according to the Department of Transportation.