Oakland’s Airport Can Use ‘San Francisco’ in Its Name Under Settlement

Key Points:

• Oakland’s airport may use the name “Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport” following a settlement that resolves a two-year trademark dispute with San Francisco over the use of “San Francisco” in its name.
• The dispute began when Oakland renamed its airport to include “San Francisco Bay” in an effort to attract more travelers by emphasizing its proximity to the Bay Area, which San Francisco challenged as trademark infringement and unfair competition.
• The settlement allows Oakland to use the name as long as “San Francisco” is always preceded by “Oakland” and is not visually emphasized or used alone in marketing materials.
• Both cities expressed satisfaction with the agreement, highlighting regional cooperation and the potential benefits of increased Bay Area airport traffic.
• Despite the rebranding, Oakland airport’s passenger traffic has declined by about 14% year over year as of February 2025, raising questions about the effectiveness of the name change in boosting travelers.