OAKLAND, Calif. (May 18, 2012) — Things are looking bright on the sunny side of the San Francisco Bay as Oakland International Airport (OAK) kicks off summer travel beginning this Memorial Day weekend. This summer, OAK offers 155 peak day nonstop departures to 41 domestic and international destinations. That’s a record-high number of markets served since OAK began air service in June 1927.

An estimated 140,000 passengers will travel through OAK over the five-day holiday travel period that begins May 24. About 70,000 daily passengers are expected on the two peak travel days which are Thursday and Friday. OAK projects a 7 percent increase in passengers compared to Memorial Day weekend 2011.

“In June, Oakland International marks 85 years of aviation excellence and the airport’s role as a vital and innovative force both in aviation history and the San Francisco Bay Area region,” said Deborah Ale Flint, Director of Aviation for the Port of Oakland, which owns and operates OAK. “We honor the spirit of Memorial Day, and are dedicated to providing outstanding service to our passengers through a friendly, easy, and fun experience at OAK.”

VACATION DESTINATIONS NONSTOP FROM OAK
OAK welcomes new, expanded, and returning service this summer, allowing both Bay Area travelers and inbound tourists more opportunities for travel:

• Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines together bring more paradise to OAK by offering daily nonstops to four Hawaiian Islands on state-of-the-art aircraft. Alaska flies B737-800 aircraft to Honolulu, on the island of Oahu; Kahului, Maui; Kailua-Kona, on the Big Island; as well as Lihue, Kauai. Hawaiian’s service to both Honolulu and Maui is on B767-300 wide-body, twin-aisle aircraft;
• Allegiant has added service at OAK, for a total of 10 markets served, including cities in Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Allegiant is known for its exceptional travel deals, and travelers are responding favorably to the airline’s excellent service and low fares;
• ArkeFly, a unit of the TUI group, the largest travel conglomerate in Europe, will fly tourists between OAK and Amsterdam when new nonstop service begins on June 7, 2012. The airline uses B767-300ER aircraft which seat 283 passengers in three classes; and
• SATA International will resume seasonal summer service from OAK to the Azores Islands, which is a Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean roughly 900 miles from Lisbon. The Azores are a paradise for hikers, walkers and cyclists. The weekly wide-body A310 flight departs and arrives every Sunday, between June 3 and Sept. 30, 2012.

DISCOUNTED AND EASY PARKING
Plenty of discounted, on-airport parking is expected to be available at OAK over the Memorial Day weekend. OAK offers $4 off each day in the Economy lot (long-term), and $8 off per day in the Premium, Hourly or Daily lots (short-term). Visit oaklandairport.com/parking for details.

SUMMER BEGINS AT OAK
Summer is here and it’s time to fly. OAK can get you there with 155 peak day nonstop flights to 41 destinations. Visit oaklandairport.com for information on more airline destinations and airport services. Become a fan of OAK by searching for Oakland International Airport on Facebook.

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]