 PRESS RELEASE
NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oakland International Experiencing Strong Summer Demand for Expanded Domestic and International Service
East Bay Airport Will Continue Soaring as it Approaches Record Level Passenger Traffic
Oakland, CA: (June 8, 2018) – On the brink of what is anticipated to be a near record summer travel period, Oakland International Airport officials remain optimistic following the announcement that one airline partner, LEVEL, will shift its twice weekly operation from the East Bay to San Francisco. LEVEL, operated by Iberia Airlines, launched its inaugural U.S. service last June with nonstop flights between the San Francisco Bay Area at OAK and Barcelona, the first-ever flights between Northern California and Spain.
OAK officials say that they are pleased to have welcomed LEVEL to the U.S. and to have assisted the carrier in establishing its new brand in the Bay Area.
Officials remain confident that the airport’s popularity will continue to rise as a record number of nonstop destinations will be offered this summer. Passenger traffic has grown every month since December 2013 and is anticipated to do so for the remainder of 2018.
OAK remains linked to Barcelona with seven weekly nonstops this summer on both LEVEL, with two flights, and Norwegian Air with five weekly flights. Norwegian will continue to serve the route following the departure of LEVEL in the fall, one of seven nonstop European routes it currently operates at OAK, making it the top carrier from the San Francisco Bay Area to Europe measured by nonstop destinations.
Port of Oakland Director of Aviation, Bryant L. Francis, said, “We worked diligently to bring LEVEL to OAK and to set the carrier up for success. Despite being a small operation, LEVEL’s Barcelona flights have been very popular, especially with the large Catalan community in the East Bay. We are proud to have played an integral role in introducing the carrier to the Bay Area and wish it much success going forward. For the first time in its 90-year history, OAK will serve over one million international passengers this year, and remains the reliable, close-in, and convenient Bay Area gateway for which it has long been known.”
Fly The East Bay Way This Summer with 7 New Domestic Nonstops
In addition to the new international flights, Oakland International expects a boost in traffic from 7 new domestic routes already operating or launching this summer. Southwest Airlines offers 5 new destinations, including two in-demand transcontinental flights to New York/Newark and Orlando in addition to Minneapolis/St. Paul, Indianapolis and San Antonio. Hawaiian Airlines begins service to Lihue, Kauai in July and Allegiant Air now operates the Bay Area’s only nonstop to Memphis from OAK. Additionally, American Airlines increased its service between Oakland and Dallas/Fort Worth, adding a second daily nonstop flight to its largest hub for the busy summer season. Passengers flying to one of the new domestic destinations can also Park Free for up to 3-days at OAK. Full details and registration for the Park Free programs can be found here: www.OaklandAirport.com/parkfree .
Since service began at OAK last June, LEVEL has enjoyed the benefits of a robust air service incentive package, valued at well over $600K in fee waivers, as well as high visibility in OAK’s marketing campaigns both in the U.S. and Spain. LEVEL’s operation at OAK represents less than 1% of the airport’s total traffic.
About Oakland International Airport
Oakland International is the fourth busiest airport in California and second busiest in the San Francisco Bay Area. Serving over 13 million travelers annually, OAK is the closest airport to the region’s top business and tourism venues. It is also the closest airport for most local residents.
Oakland’s air service roster to over 60 nonstop destinations is offered on 14 different airline brands – seven of which operate with OAK as their sole gateway into the San Francisco Bay region.
The vision of Oakland International Airport is to offer customers a world-class experience and be the airport of choice for Bay Area residents and visitors alike. OAK is operated by The Port of Oakland, which also oversees the Oakland seaport and 20 miles of waterfront. Together with its business partners, the Port supports more than 73,000 jobs in the region and nearly 827,000 jobs across the United States.
For Media Inquiries:
keonnis.taylor@portoakland.com | 510-563-6500
|
Tags: OAK, oakland international, Oakland International Airport
