Oakland, Calif. – June 30, 2016: The summer travel season is well underway, and the July 4th holiday weekend is expected to be a busy one at Oakland International Airport (OAK). Peak travel days for the holiday period start today, Thursday, June 30 through Monday, July 4. Airport staff is prepared for a busy weekend ahead with the holiday falling on Monday after an already busy summer weekend.
During the 5-day holiday period, OAK expects to see 184,000 air travelers, up 8% over last year. Friday is expected to be the busiest travel day, with more than 42,000 travelers passing through OAK’s gates. Over one million passengers are expected to use the airport during July.
Local residents will begin their holiday breaks and summer vacations at the airport departing for destinations throughout the US, including the four main Hawaiian Islands where a record numbers of seats are offered by Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines. This year the airport also has more international service than ever before with new flights to Europe and Mexico.
Visitors vacationing here in the San Francisco Bay Area are arriving at OAK in greater numbers on flights from Europe and North America. Centrally-located OAK offers great access to all of the region’s major tourism venues in San Francisco, the East Bay, and Wine Country. The Airport’s rail connection, consolidated car rental facility and ample on-airport parking make arriving and departing that much easier.
More Flights to Your Summer Vacation
The airport has experienced 30 consecutive months of year-over-year passenger traffic growth. This is in part due to several new flights including:
- Hawaiian Islands on Hawaiian
- Atlanta on Delta
- Long Beach on Southwest
- Reno-Tahoe on Southwest
- St. Louis on Southwest
- Baltimore/Washington DC on Southwest
- London Gatwick on Norwegian
Travel Smart, Arrive Early
In light of the expected boost in travelers, OAK encourages travelers to prepare to enjoy this holiday weekend by arriving early for departures. For the best experience traveling through OAK this busy travel season, we suggest following TSA guidelines to get you through the Airport and to your destination.
TSA recommends arriving up to 2 hours early for domestic flights and 3 hours for international destinations this Holiday weekend.
Get Expedited Screening:
TSA Pre® is an expedited screening program that enables low-risk travelers to enjoy a smart and efficient screening experience. For TSA Pre® travelers, there is no need to remove shoes, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops, light outerwear or belts. In the month of March (2016), 95% of those enrolled in TSA Pre?® waited five minutes or less to be screened. The marketing carriers that sell airline tickets to/from OAK that participate in TSA Pre®: Aeromexico, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and Southwest Airlines. Apply for TSA Pre® today! TSA Security Guidance for Travelers
Airport Ground Transportation
Travelers visiting the Bay Area may take advantage of the popular Oakland International Airport BART Station, which offers access to the entire BART system from the airport’s front door. For comprehensive information on how to use the BART line to or from the airport and watch a how-to video, visit www.bart.gov/guide/airport/inbound_oak.
AC Transit Bus service, Taxis, Shuttles, and TNC car services such as Lyft, Uber, and Wingz are also available at the terminal curbside. For details about Ground Transportation at the OAK, visit https://www.iflyoak.com/ground_transportation.shtml.
On-Airport Parking Options
For those departing OAK, ample parking is always available on-airport with a range of options offered for every budget. Travelers to any destination can take advantage of $4.00 off the daily rate for parking in the Economy lot or $8.00 off per day in its Premier, Hourly and Daily lots. Frequent travelers can get a day of free Daily Lot parking with the purchase of three days at regular rates by using OAK’s Frequent Parker Program. Businesses can save $10 off daily rates for Premier, Hourly or Daily lots by registering in the OAK Corporate Parker program. Details, requirements and registration for OAK’s parking programs are available at OaklandAirport.com/parking.
About Oakland International Airport
Oakland International is the fourth busiest airport in California and second busiest in the San Francisco Bay Area. Serving over 11 million travelers each year, OAK is the closest airport to the region’s top tourism and entertainment venues. It is also the closest airport for most local residents. Beginning October 6, OAK customers can fly nonstop to El Paso, Texas, bringing Oakland’s air service roster to 55 destinations on 12 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 up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps, and details on shopping, dining, transportation, and more, visit www.iflyoak.com. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Media Contact:
Keonnis Taylor
Airport Spokesperson
Oakland International Airport
(510) 563-2892