Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK) opened on September 17, 1927, making it one of the earliest commercial airfields on the West Coast. Its original North Field infrastructure dates to that founding year and still operates today for general aviation and corporate jet activity. Commercial passenger and cargo jet operations moved to South Field when that facility opened in 1962. For most of its history the airport was known as Oakland International Airport or Metropolitan Oakland International Airport. The Port of Oakland renamed it San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport in 2024, a move that triggered a trademark lawsuit from the City of San Francisco and a prolonged legal dispute that concluded with a settlement in April 2026.

The airport sits on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in Alameda County, roughly 7 miles south of downtown Oakland. It serves the East Bay and acts as an alternative gateway for travelers heading to San Francisco and Silicon Valley. OAK is a FedEx Express hub and a major operating base for Southwest Airlines, which has historically dominated passenger traffic at the airport. FedEx established its Bay Area hub at OAK in 1988. During World War II, the airport was converted into a military airlift base supporting operations across the Pacific.

The airport has 2 passenger terminals and covers approximately 2,600 acres. A BART connector linking the airport to the regional rail network opened in November 2014. OAK carries significant cargo volume alongside its passenger operations. FedEx and UPS together account for roughly 40 cargo flights daily. Its dual role as a low-cost passenger hub and a freight gateway gives it a distinct operational profile among Bay Area airports.