Oakland, Calif. – June 7, 2012 – For the first time, scheduled service is now available between Oakland International Airport (OAK) and Amsterdam. ArkeFly, headquartered in Schiphol-Rijk, the Netherlands, and a unit of the TUI group, the largest travel conglomerate in Europe, today began flying travelers between OAK and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS). The airline uses B767-300ER aircraft which seat 283 passengers in three classes.

ArkeFly’s new twice-weekly service includes a nonstop flight and a direct, one-stop flight. The new service is part of the airline’s three-city US west coast expansion that includes Los Angeles (LAX) and Las Vegas (LAS).

The flight schedule is as follows:

ArkeFly’s new service is a significant development for local tourism and Bay Area residents. The flights will stimulate the regional economy with over 275 inbound international passengers each week. The economic impact to Bay Area tourism is $4.5 million to $5 million during the 18 weeks of scheduled service until the season ends on Oct. 18, 2012. The average Dutch visitor stays on average 10 days in the U.S.

“Travelers arriving from Amsterdam will enjoy an easy, efficient airport experience and outstanding access to the many attractions in the San Francisco Bay Area mega-region, including San Francisco, Oakland, the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, as well as Yosemite and Lake Tahoe,” said Deborah Ale Flint, Director of Aviation for the Port of Oakland, which owns and operates OAK. “Bay Area travelers will welcome a departure from Oakland to Amsterdam as an attractive option for vacation plans this summer. Amsterdam is an exciting and desirable destination in itself, and is a great connecting point to many other European cities.”

Bart van Bolhuis, Consul General of the Netherlands in San Francisco, joined Marily Mora, Assistant Director of Aviation, and John Albrecht, Manager of Aviation Communications and Marketing, to see the departing flight off at OAK’s Gate 8.

ArkeFly’s B767-300ER aircraft seats 283 passengers in three classes: Premium Comfort, Comfort, and Economy. The airline is reporting strong bookings for its flights.

About ArkeFly
ArkeFly is owned by the Dutch travel organization TUI Nederland. It is the only travel organization in the country with its own airline. ArkeFly operates from the Netherlands with a fleet of Boeing 767-300ER and Boeing 737-800 aircraft and offers a three class product: Economy Class (30 inch pitch), Comfort Class (33 inch pitch) and Premium Comfort (37 inch pitch). In 2014, the airline will be the Dutch launch customer for the new B787 Dreamliner. ArkeFly covers more than 60 destinations worldwide, including the Caribbean and intercontinental Europe. In the U.S., the airline also operates flights to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando-Sanford and Miami International twice a week. In March 2011, ArkeFly received a prestigious Schiphol Aviation Award in the category ‘Airline of the Year North & South America 2010.’ TUI Nederland makes it possible to discover the world and enjoy first class holidays at affordable prices.

About the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport
The Port of Oakland includes the Oakland seaport, Oakland International Airport, and 20 miles of waterfront. The Oakland seaport is the fifth busiest container port in the U.S.; Oakland International Airport is the second largest San Francisco Bay Area airport offering over 300 daily passenger and cargo flights; and the Port’s real estate includes commercial developments such as Jack London Square and hundreds of acres of public parks and conservation areas. Together, through Port operations and those of its tenants and users, the Port supports more than 70,000 jobs in the region and over 800,000 jobs across the United States. The Port of Oakland was established in 1927 and is an independent department of the City of Oakland. Connect with the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and at www.portofoakland.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Rosemary Barnes
Media Relations/Marketing
Oakland International Airport
(510) 563-2892
[email protected]