SAN FRANCISCO (AP) 鈥� San Francisco has settled a two-year legal fight with its neighbor across the bay that will allow the city of Oakland to include 鈥淪an Francisco鈥� in its airport鈥檚 name if it doesn鈥檛 highlight the two words in any way.
The settlement announced Tuesday allows Oakland鈥檚 airport to be called 鈥淥akland San Francisco Bay Airport,鈥� but it bars the city from spotlighting 鈥淪an Francisco鈥� or 鈥淪an Francisco Bay鈥� in fonts, highlights, different colors or any other way. It also requires Oakland to use the word 鈥渂ay鈥� right after 鈥淪an Francisco鈥� and bans it from using the word 鈥淚nternational鈥� in the airport鈥檚 name, even though it provides international flights.
The spat began in 2024 after Oakland, a diverse port city often seen as the underdog in the Bay Area compared to its richer neighbor to the west, to 鈥淪an Francisco-Oakland Bay Airport,鈥� prompting San Francisco officials what they said was a trademark violation.
The two airports are across from each other on the San Francisco Bay and about 30 miles (48.28 kilometers) driving distance.
Oakland officials said the name modification was necessary to help travelers unfamiliar with the region place the city in the Bay Area. They said visitors often fly into San Francisco鈥檚 airport even if their destination is closer to the Oakland airport. The airport鈥檚 three-letter code OAK did not change.
鈥淲e鈥檙e proud Oakland fought for, and preserved the right to retain our airport鈥檚 full name that puts Oakland first and recognizes OAK鈥檚 location on the San Francisco Bay,鈥� Mary Richardson, attorney for the Port of Oakland, which manages the airport, said in a statement.
San Francisco argued having 鈥淪an Francisco鈥� in Oakland鈥檚 airport name would confuse travelers, especially those flying in from abroad and those unfamiliar with the Bay Area. But on Tuesday, San Francisco officials had a friendlier tone.
鈥淲e are grateful to have reached a resolution in this matter,鈥� San Francisco International Airport Director Mike Nakornkhet said. 鈥淭his agreement provides clarity for travelers to make informed decisions about travel through our respective airports.鈥�
Neither side admitted liability, and there was no monetary settlement.
San Francisco International Airport, known as SFO, is owned by the city, though technically located south of it.
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