San Francisco
CNN
 — 

San Francisco is suing its neighbor throughout the Bay over a plan to vary the title of Oakland’s airport.

Earlier this month, the Port of Oakland’s commissioners voted unanimously to vary the title of Oakland Worldwide Airport to “San Francisco Bay Oakland Worldwide Airport.”

“The suggestions we get [from airlines] … is, as a result of there’s lack of title recognition … it’s arduous to promote tickets inbound,” mentioned Danny Wan, govt director for the Port of Oakland. “Individuals have no idea that Oakland is by the San Francisco Bay. That has been one of many Achilles’ heels of our advertising and marketing.”

The brand new title wouldn’t change the airport’s three-letter identifier, OAK.

San Francisco filed go well with in federal court docket Thursday, requesting the court docket prohibit Oakland from utilizing the title, alleging that Oakland plans to “deliberately and knowingly capitalize off of confusion.”

The Metropolis of San Francisco owns a trademark on “San Francisco Worldwide Airport,” generally referred to by its three-letter code, SFO.

SF mayor: Oakland ‘has its personal distinctive id’

San Francisco Mayor London Breed additionally weighed in. “[Oakland] is wealthy in tradition and fantastic individuals and has its personal distinctive id. It doesn’t want the identical San Francisco as a part of its airport to face out,” she penned in a letter to the Port of Oakland.

Wan rebuffed the concept the brand new title would trigger confusion.

“There are numerous, many airports which have an identical or widespread metropolis or geographic identification title of their title… And but, airways have discovered how to try this. Airports have discovered how to try this. Passengers have discovered how to try this.”

An legal professional for the Port of Oakland, Mary Richardson, advised CNN that “San Francisco’s lawsuit is disappointing. OAK’s proposed renaming doesn’t infringe upon SFO’s mark. We’ll vigorously defend our proper to say our spot on the San Francisco Bay. We’re standing up for Oakland and our East Bay group.”

At the least one airline has already began utilizing the brand new title.

Azores Airways, which flies from Oakland to Terceira Island within the Portuguese archipelago within the Atlantic, now lists OAK below its proposed new title.

United Airways, which holds greater than 40% of the market at SFO, in response to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, advised CNN it opposes the proposed title change.

A consultant for the airline mentioned, “The title change may trigger confusion and inconvenience for a lot of vacationers who will not be acquainted with the area, and result in issues similar to passengers inadvertently reserving journey to the flawed airport.”

Southwest, which has an 82% market share at Oakland, mentioned in a information launch with the Port that it’s “wholeheartedly supportive of this rebranding that acknowledges OAK’s financial place and affect within the San Francisco Bay space whereas staying true to its Oakland roots.” Southwest didn’t reply to CNN’s request for remark.

Remaining approval for the title change is pending a second vote from Port of Oakland’s Board of Commissioners on Might 9.