San Jose’s international airport has a new name, advertising slogan and millions of dollars in federal funding as it upgrades to keep pace with the air travel needs of the burgeoning South Bay.
The airport formerly known as Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport will now be known for marketing purposes as San Jose Mineta International Airport. SJC will still be the International Air Transport Association’s three-letter code for the airport.
The airport in an announcement about the rebranding said the new name “was selected to lead with location, helping travelers find SJC and strengthen the geographical association with San Jose.
The City Council had renamed the airport in 2001 in honor of Norman Mineta, a former San Jose mayor, congressman and U.S. Secretary of Transportation who oversaw the country’s aviation sector during and after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Mineta died last May at the age of 90.
Airport officials said marketing research indicated that travelers did not associate SJC’s branding with San Jose or the Bay Area. The official name of the airport will remain the same until changed by the City Council.
The rebranding announced by the airport also includes a new logo and new tagline: “Fly Simple.”
Meanwhile, the airport also has been awarded nearly $11 million in federal grant funding to support various infrastructure improvements.
The airport will receive $10,990,000 via a competitive grant program in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which federal legislators approved in 2021.
The funding will be used for upgrades to the airport’s terminal and will help bring airport facilities into compliance with the U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act.
“The Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport in my district serves millions of travelers each year and is essential to our local economy,” said Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Fremont, prior to the airport’s announced name change. “The funding from this grant will make vital improvements to the airport’s terminal and accessibility.”
Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, said the funding will bring the airport into the 21st century.
“The benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will transcend generations thanks to these historic improvements in our communities that create jobs and improve accessibility,” she said.
Bay City News staff writer Dan McMenamin contributed to this story.