Oakland International Airport has done what Stockton Metro Airport was pressured out of doing seven years ago — adding San Francisco to its name.

Port of Oakland commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to rename Oakland International Airport as San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.

Modifying the name of the Stockton airport just three miles north of Manteca’s city limits to  San Francisco Stockton Regional Airport was floated in October 2017.

Indignant San Francisco officials cried foul. The San Joaquin County Aviation Advisory Committee batted  the idea down after it was ridiculed on social media.

“We are looking at everything possible to improve passenger service and increase cargo (movement),” said Steve DeBrum, a former Manteca mayor who serves on the advisory board for the airport.

DeBrum said they are looking at “everything to market and brand” the Stockton airport.

That could include, he said, possibly modifying the name.

DeBrum is running for the District 3 seat to represent Manteca, Lathrop, and part of northwest Stockton on the San Joaquin County Board of Suopervisors. His opponent is current Lathrop Mayor Sonny Dhaliwal.

San Joaquin County owns and operates the airport.

Harry Mavrogenes, the airport director at the time, said the name change would have been a way of attracting business, increasing the awareness of the airport’s proximity to the Bay Area and promoting regionalism.
 San Joaquin County about a decade ago became part of the Combined Statistical Area of the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland region as the local economy and growth has become more and more intertwined with the nine core Bay Area counties.
All three major cities have international airports with heavy passenger service as well as some freight service. When companies that need to move freight quickly and long distances locate in major metro areas they often seek locations near airports.

Amazon currently runs a number of daily cargo flights in and out of Stockton.

 Given the growing congestion at the three airports and the distribution growth in San Joaquin County aimed at serving the high wealth Bay Area, the belief is Stockton Metro Airport can become a major draw to locate jobs in the county. It may not pop up on the radar of some firms not familiar with the regional dynamics due to its existing name.
The fact Stockton has a longer runway to accommodate bigger cargo jets, a manned control tower, and scheduled airline service via Allegiant arguably puts it in the position to be considered the Bay Area’s fourth most important airport.
Amazon is already flying cargo jets daily into Stockton to move goods through distribution centers in the South County that service customers in the Bay Area west of the Altamont Pass

A major business park is being developed at Highway 99 and Arch Road on the edge of the airport.

In addition there is a vast tract of zoned land around the airport that can accommodate distribution centers and other concerns.
The county has been working to position the airport to become the heir apparent for major air cargo movements supporting the Bay Area as well as a secondary airport for scheduled passenger service.

The urban interchange built at Arch Road and Highway 99 more than 15 years ago is designed to move a high volume of traffic.

In addition the completion of the Arch Road-Sperry Road connection across the Union Pacific tracks tying into an interchange on Interstate 5 gives Stockton Airport unparalleled freeway access to move goods.
The Union Pacific Railroad intermodal facility for truck-train shipping is four miles away to the south adjacent to the northern boundaries of the cities of Manteca and Lathrop while the Santa Fe Railroad intermodal facility is eight miles to the northeast accessed by taking Arch Road to Austin Road.

Toss in the Port of Stockton being 15 minutes away and firms locating in and around Stockton Airport have unparalleled access to transportation to move goods as well as people.
Back in the 1990s before San Jose International Airport sorted out issues with flight restrictions, a number of major high tech companies housed corporate jets out of Stockton as it was easier to fly in and out.
Dedicated by the City of Stockton in 1927 as Stockton Municipal Airport, the airport began as a private ranch providing a location for aerial barnstorming operations in the 1920s.

During World War II it was used as an Army training facility. After the war ended, San Joaquin County assumed responsibility for it and began commercial service, including passenger service.

Today, it’s a general aviation and commercial service facility boasting one of the longest runways in California.
The airport from downtown Manteca is 8.3 miles away. That is nearly as close as downtown Stockton that is 6.8 miles away.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com