Oakland, CA: (May 23, 2017) — This Memorial Day holiday weekend kicks off what is expected to be a near-record summer travel season at Oakland International Airport (OAK). New destinations, new airlines, and increased frequencies are helping to drive passenger traffic ever higher, which has grown steadily over the past three years.
The Memorial Day holiday constitutes the unofficial launch of summer for travelers. OAK expects to welcome approximately 160,000 travelers over the four-day weekend beginning Friday, May 26th, through Monday, May 29th. For the month of May, the airport expects to continue its upward passenger volume trend, and will offer 15% more seats than in May 2016.
New flights across the country and around the globe are driving stronger holiday traffic. Southwest commenced its first-ever international flights from Oakland in February with the launch of two beach destination cities in Mexico, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos. Norwegian launched nonstop service to Copenhagen, Denmark, on March 28 – another first-ever from Oakland. Also on March 28, the Airport welcomed British Airways, which made its entry into Oakland with service to London-Gatwick. Domestically, holiday traffic will also be boosted by brand new service on Spirit, which will introduce nonstop service to Baltimore and Detroit, both on May 25.
OAK’s summer flight schedule will offer 170 peak day departures to over 60 domestic and international destinations – the most ever in the airport’s history.
Travel Smart, Arrive Early
In light of the expected boost in travelers, and in preparation for smooth travel experiences, OAK encourages holiday weekend travelers to arrive early for departures. 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 PreCheck® is an expedited screening program that enables low-risk travelers to enjoy a smart and efficient screening experience. For TSA PreCheck® travelers, there is no need to remove shoes, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops, light outerwear or belts.
For issues or questions about receiving TSA PreCheck on your boarding pass or whether an item is allowed through security, get live assistance by tweeting TSA directly. Tweet questions and comments to @AskTSA or via Facebook Messenger on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on weekends/holidays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can also reach the TSA Contact Center at 866-289-9673.
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, please Click Here.
AC Transit Bus service, Taxis, Shuttles, and TNC services such as Lyft, Uber, and Wingz are also available at the terminal curbside. For details about Ground Transportation at OAK, please Click Here.
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 European destinations are offered up to 5 days of free parking in the Airport’s Daily Lot, a value of $120. Click HERE for more details on OAK’s Fly Europe| Park Free offer.
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 receive 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 www.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 12 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 destinations is scheduled on 13 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.
OAK MEDIA CONTACT:
Keonnis R. Taylor| Airport Spokeswoman