News

Silicon Valley Airport Gets New Name

SAN JOSE — Silicon Valley’s home airport is getting a slight new name change. Instead of Mineta San Jose International Airport, the airport will now be known as San José Mineta International Airport (SJC).

The airport was named for the late congressman and Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta in 2001. He passed away last year.

The name change comes after an extensive process by SJC, aimed at resolving lingering confusion around the name from customers around the world. The new branding initiative means an overhaul of SJC’s public-facing identity, including a new brand name, logo, colors, tagline, and marketing materials.

“We are thrilled to re-introduce Silicon Valley’s airport to the world with these new brand elements,” said John Aitken, Director of Aviation at SJC. “The process of examining and redeveloping our brand identity was crucial in helping us develop a deeper understanding of our community and what we needed to do to ensure we provide the best possible experience to our passengers and visitors.”

WHAT’S IN A NAME?
The new brand name, San José Mineta International Airport, was selected to lead with location, helping travelers find SJC and strengthen the geographical association with San José. It also moves “Mineta” to the heart (center) of the name, and uses fewer words, which simplifies the visual identity and reflects the SJC’s brand promise of a streamlined airport experience. The name change only applies to the Airport’s public brand. An official name change would require action by City elected officials.
In addition to the new brand name, the new brand identity package includes a new logo, and other visual elements that will be reflected across SJC’s signage, bus wraps, advertising, and communications materials for the Airport.

PROCESS AND RESEARCH
The Airport’s rebranding effort is a result of an extensive strategic research and brand development process conducted by SJC and marketing consultant, GALE Partners. Multiple market research studies identified brand elements that resonate with the local community and travelers around the world. The research indicated that travelers did not widely associate the Airport’s previous branding with San José or the Bay Area.

NEW BRAND ELEMENTS
The new design elements incorporate updated colors and graphics and are designed to provide consistency, accessibility, and familiarity across all customer touchpoints.

New Brand Name: San José Mineta International Airport

New Tagline: Fly Simple.

New Logo: The new logo features a modern graphic identity that reflects the vibrancy and energy of Silicon Valley while providing simple and intuitive design elements. The new logo, presented vertically and horizontally, depicts the concept of “forward motion.” It is a simplified combination of symbols commonly found while traveling through an airport — an overhead view of an airplane, its wings, and airfield directional symbols:

 

New Colors: The new brand’s colors were inspired by San Jose’s culture and sense of place – including the City flag and local climate – warmth, sun, poppies, and ocean. The new logo color palette literally represents the sky.

MIDNIGHT is the primary brand color, representing professionalism and the promise of innovation. Featured colors include Dawn, Dusk, Sky, and Cloud.