The New York Times:
Anyone who has spent time in Northern California knows that many people consider Oakland the region's ugly sister, spurned by suitors in favor of the more refined attractions of San Francisco.
Spurned, that is, except when it comes to airports.
The nation's two most profitable airlines Southwest and JetBlue operate out of Oakland, not San Francisco International. Oakland's airport has lower fees and better weather, and the population is growing faster on the east side of the bay. The influx of low-cost air service has meant that the number of passengers has been rising even as it has dropped at San Francisco and most other airports around the country.
But San Francisco is fighting back, driving hard to woo airlines, especially low-cost carriers. Mayor Willie Brown is courting airline executives, and the airport is cutting landing fees by half on new routes.
These efforts seem to be paying off, for American Trans Air, or ATA, is starting its first transcontinental service nonstop flights between here and the New York area on Sunday, and a couple of other low-cost airlines also plan to fly new cross-country routes within two months. As low-cost carriers make inroads on a route, fares generally drop substantially.
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