Oakland International Airport

Early years

The city of Oakland looked into the construction of an airport starting in 1925. In 1927 the announcement of the Dole prize for a flight from California to Hawaii provided the incentive to purchase 680 acres in April 1927 for the airport.^[8][9] The 7,020-foot-long runway was the longest in the world at the time, and was built in just 21 days to meet the Dole race start. The airport was dedicated by Charles Lindbergh September 17. In its early days, because of its long runway enabling safe takeoff rolls for fuel-heavy aircraft, Oakland was the departing point of several historic flights, including Charles Kingsford Smith's historic US-Australia flight in 1928, and Amelia Earhart's final flight in 1937. Earhart departed from this airport when she made her final, ill-fated voyage, intending to return there after circumnavigating the globe.^[10]

Boeing Air Transport (a predecessor of United Airlines) began scheduled flights to Oakland in December 1927. It was joined by Trans World Airlines (TWA) in 1932. In 1929, Boeing opened the Boeing School of Aeronautics on the field, which expanded rapidly in 1939 as part of the Civilian Pilot Training Program. Thousands of pilots and mechanics were trained before the facility was changed into the United Air Lines training center in 1945.^[11]

Aerial view of NAS Oakland in the mid-1940s

Advertising the Naval Air Reserve at NAS Oakland, 1949.

In 1943, the U.S. Armed Forces temporarily took over Oakland Airport and opened Naval Air Station Oakland. It was transformed into an airlift base for military flights to the Pacific islands, ordering all scheduled service to move to San Francisco International Airport. After the war, airlines slowly returned to Oakland; Western Airlines began flights in 1946, and was followed by American Airlines, TWA, United, Transocean Airlines and Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA).

The airport's first Jet Age airline terminal (now Terminal 1) was designed by John Carl Warnecke & Associates and opened in 1962, part of a $20 million expansion on bay fill that included the 10,000-foot runway 11/29.^[12] The May 1963 OAG showed 15 airline flights arriving in Oakland each day, including nine from San Francisco; in June 1963, TWA flew Oakland's first scheduled jet, a Convair 880, to Chicago.^[10]

During the Vietnam War, World Airways shuttled thousands of military passengers through Oakland to their bases in Southeast Asia, and an international arrivals facility was built, allowing the airport to handle international flights for the first time. By the late 1960s, World Airways had broken ground on the World Airways Maintenance Center at Oakland International Airport. The maintenance hangar could store four Boeing 747's.^[10]

After the war Oakland's traffic slumped, but airline deregulation prompted several low-fare carriers to begin flights. This increase prompted the airport to build a $16.3 million second terminal, the Lionel J. Wilson Terminal 2, with seven gates for PSA and AirCal service.^[10] In 1987 an Air France Concorde visited Oakland to provide supersonic two-hour flights to the Pacific halfway to Hawaii and back to Oakland.

FedEx Express opened a cargo base at OAK in 1988, which is now one of the busiest air freight terminals in the United States. In the 1990s, Southwest Airlines opened a crew base in Oakland, and expanded its flights to become the airport's dominant passenger carrier. The airport has international arrival facilities, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. Mexicana Airlines flew between Oakland and cities in Mexico for many years. In the past Corsairfly flew Orly Airport to OAK to Papeete, Tahiti, Martinair flew to Schiphol Airport and CityBird flew to Brussels Airport in Brussels.^[10]

2000s

United Airlines vacated its 300,000 sq ft (30,000 m²) Oakland Maintenance Center in May 2003 and transferred work to its base across the bay at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Oakland International Airport began a $300 million expansion and renovation project in 2004, including adding five gates in Terminal 2. The new concourse partially opened in fall 2006, was fully opened by spring 2007, and a new baggage claim in Terminal 2 opened in summer 2006. The former Terminal 2 baggage claim has been replaced by a renovated and expanded security screening area. As part of this program, airport roadways, curbsides and parking lots were also renovated by the end of 2008.^[10]

In 2008 Oakland saw a series of cutbacks due to high fuel costs and airline bankruptcies, more than other Bay Area airports. In just a few days, Oakland's numerous non-stops to Hawaii were eliminated following the liquidation of ATA Airlines and Aloha Airlines, although Hawaiian Airlines started a daily flight to Honolulu a month later. Skybus Airlines stopped flying to Columbus, OH when it ended operations on April 5. American Airlines and Continental Airlines both dropped Oakland on September 3, United Airlines ended service to Los Angeles on November 2, and TACA ended service to San Salvador on September 1.

New air traffic control tower

Former South Air Traffic Control Tower above Oakland International Airport's Terminal 1

A groundbreaking ceremony for a new control tower took place October 15, 2010. A grant awarded to the Federal Aviation Administration from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) helped fund the project. The new, environmentally "green" tower was opened in 2013 and replaced the previous north and south field towers. The new tower was formally dedicated in a ceremony on November 22, 2013.^[13]

BART to Oakland International Airport

A long-proposed extension of the BART system to the airport opened on November 22, 2014, allowing passengers to board BART people mover trains and transport from the BART Coliseum station platform to the entrance of all terminals.^[14] The new system consists of a mostly elevated structure, running the length of Hegenberger Road.^[15]

Electric vehicle charging services

The Port of Oakland and Coulomb Technologies has announced that electric vehicle (EV) driver services have arrived at Oakland International Airport (OAK) with the installation of eight ChargePoint Network charging stations for EVs in the Premier Parking Lot.

Oakland International is the first Northern California airport to offer EV charging services as part of the ChargePoint Network, providing drivers EV services including real-time charging station status and reservations.

Noise management program

For more than 30 years, OAK has worked with its stakeholders to develop programs that minimize the effect of aircraft noise, to the extent possible, on surrounding communities, while maintaining a safe and efficient air transportation center. Through regularly scheduled stakeholder meetings, a sophisticated noise-monitoring system, proactive communications with neighboring communities and pilot education, the airport has successfully lessened the impact of its operations on neighboring communities, in order to improve their quality of life.

Master Plan

For nearly a century, Oakland International Airport has served the shipping and travel needs of the San Francisco Bay Area. The original airfield was built in 1927 and is still used by air cargo, corporate and general aviation operators. In 1962 a new terminal (Terminal 1), 10,000-foot runway and 10-story air traffic control tower was built to usher in the jet-age. Terminal 2 was opened in 1985 and is now used solely by Southwest Airlines.^[10]

In 2008 OAK completed its $300 million Terminal Improvement Program, with projects that added a new concourse with five more gates and waiting areas expanded ticketing, security and baggage claim facilities added new utilities and improved terminal access and eased congestion in front of the terminals through a new roadway and curbside system. These projects are one part of the ongoing Airport Development Program (ADP).^[10]

Even with the completion of these projects, there is an ongoing demand need for additional infrastructure improvements. The main planning tool to provide guidance on near-term and long-term Airport land-use is a Master Plan. The airport's 20-year Master Plan was completed in 2006, with input from the OAK Aviation Stakeholder Advisory Committee.^[10]

Environmental Management

Oakland International Airport, a revenue division of the Port of Oakland, takes a leadership role in promoting a sustainable operating environment—whether looking at current day-to-day operations or forecasting future needs and requirements.

The Port of Oakland is an independent department of the city of Oakland and is required to do its part to be a good neighbor, an environmental steward, and a responsible business operator in its efforts to support the city's sustainability goals. Through its efforts, the Port of Oakland contributed to the recognition of the city of Oakland as one of the best examples of urban sustainability at the 2005 United Nations World Environment Day conference in San Francisco.

The Port of Oakland has adopted a sustainability policy, also known as the "Three E's," that is based on the values of environmental responsibility, economic vitality and social equity.

Expansion

In May 2015, Oakland International Airport's Moving Modern program construction commenced a $100 million renovation of the Terminal 1 complex. The project includes seismic architectural retrofits in central buildings, replacement and upgrading of infrastructure and improvement of the passenger environment. The project is expected to be completed in Spring 2017.^[16]

Recent developments

Following the years of the Great Recession, during which a few airlines were either liquidated (ATA Airlines and Aloha Airlines), or consolidated business to San Francisco International Airport (Continental Airlines and American Airlines), OAK started a gradual recovery, which has continued through 2017.

In 2009, Allegiant Air moved operations from San Francisco International Airport, before designating OAK as a focus city. After the bankruptcies of ATA and Aloha Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines replaced their nonstop services to Hawaii. In the same year, Volaris began service to OAK as their first destination in the San Francisco Bay Area and held a commercial agreement with Southwest Airlines, until its merger with AirTran Airways in 2011. Malaysia-based AirAsia X honored its new partners, the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). AirAsia X had one of their planes full of its executives and crew members "touch down" at OAK in acknowledgment of the to-be announced sponsorship. AirAsia executives had new optimism that service between the U.S. and the airline's main base in Kuala Lumpur, could possibly happen earlier than originally expected, but has yet to come to fruition as of 2017.

In 2009, OAK had the highest on-time arrival percentage among the 40 busiest North American airports.^[17][18]

In 2011, Spirit Airlines returned to OAK after several years of absence, eventually flying a combined total of seven year-round and seasonal routes by the summer of 2017. Oakland International Airport also celebrated its 85th Anniversary in 2011, commemorating the first transpacific crossing by air from OAK to Hawaii, which took place on June 29, 1927 in The Bird of Paradise, flown by Hegenberger and Maitland. In 2012, United Airlines discontinued operations at OAK, consolidating operations at San Francisco International Airport, its Bay Area hub. Arkefly (which later re-branded as TUI Airlines Netherlands) chose OAK as a San Francisco Bay Area gateway, flying twice-weekly to Amsterdam, via a stop at Los Angeles International Airport. Arkefly provided 18 weeks of scheduled service in the summer of 2012. The airline followed with a similar schedule during the summer of in 2013, before discontinuing service at OAK.

In 2013, FedEx Express opened a $30 million upgrade of its hub facility at OAK, including additions to accommodate the airline's new Boeing 777 Freighter fleet. In 2014, Norwegian Air Shuttle announced its first two year-round flights to Stockholm and Oslo airport, using Boeing 787-8 aircraft seating 291 passengers operated by Norwegian Long Haul. The flights were the first-ever nonstop services offered from the two Scandinavian capitals to the San Francisco Bay Area, providing several connections throughout Europe. The Oslo flight was later changed to a seasonal schedule.

In 2016, Norwegian Air Shuttle announced nonstop flights connecting Oakland with London beginning the following spring. British Airways responded with their own service to London, with both airlines providing service to London's Gatwick Airport. American Airlines also returned and re-branded, following a merger with US Airways; the latter previously having a short-term presence at OAK, following a separate merger with America West Airlines during the previous decade. Southwest Airlines inaugurated nonstop flights from Oakland to Mexico for the airline's first international nonstop flights from OAK. The additional routes also gave the airline a combined total of 30 year-round and seasonal flights at the airport as of early 2017.

In 2017, Norwegian Air Shuttle announced nonstop flights connecting Oakland with Copenhagen on a seasonal basis from March 28, and Oakland with Barcelona from June 7 to operate year-round. Level, a new carrier owned by IAG, responded with their own Barcelona service, started flights initially operated by IAG partner Iberia on June 2, with both airlines providing service to Barcelona El Prat Airport.^[19] In the months following, Norwegian announced in May the introduction of nonstop flights between Oakland and Rome Fiumicino started on February 6, 2018,^[20] and in July the introduction of nonstop flights between Oakland and Paris Charles de Gaulle began on April 10, 2018.^[21]

Inside Terminal 1 at Oakland International Airport

Terminal 1 and ground transportation dropoff loop

Overview

Terminal 2 curbside at Oakland International Airport

View of Terminal 2 at Oakland International Airport

Oakland International Airport covers 2,600 acres (1,100 ha) and has four runways.^[1] Changes to Earth's magnetic field required runways 27 and 29 to be rebranded as 28 and 30, respectively in 2013.^[22]

• South Field (Commercial and cargo operations):
  • Runway 12/30: 10,520 ft × 150 ft (3,206 m × 46 m) asphalt
• North Field (general aviation operations):
  • Runway 10R/28L: 6,213 ft × 150 ft (1,894 m × 46 m) asphalt
  • Runway 10L/28R: 5,458 ft × 150 ft (1,664 m × 46 m) asphalt
  • Runway 15/33: 3,376 ft × 75 ft (1,029 m × 23 m) asphalt

A number of general aviation FBOs are at the North Field:

• Transient aircraft support
  • KaiserAir
  • Signature Flight Support
• Flying Clubs
  • Oakland Flyers^[23]
  • Alameda Aero Club^[24]
• Repair operations
  • Sundance Air Services^[25]
• Other
  • Aerial Advertising Services
  • Oakland Aviation Museum, formerly Western Aerospace Museum
  • Pacific Aerial Surveys

In 2008 the airport had 269,631 aircraft operations, an average 740 per day. This consisted of 46% general aviation (188,064), 42% scheduled commercial, 12% air taxi and <1% military. 277 aircraft are based at the airport: 51% single-engine, 34% multi-engine, 10% jet and 4% helicopter.

Terminal 1

Terminal 1 of Oakland International currently serves Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Azores Airlines, Boutique Air, British Airways, Contour Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, Level, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Volaris. The ground level houses the baggage claim area, Customs, and most of the ticket counters (while Volaris & Hawaiian ticket counters are on level 2). Level 2 houses the security check with access to gates 1–17 (gates 1 & 3 are international gates) near gate 4 is a connector to gates 20–32 of T2. Terminal 1 has a passenger transit area and a Lost & Found station. Three food & drink establishments and a newsstand are in pre-security, while all other food & drink, duty-free shop, newsstands, bars & shoeshine stand are in post-security, at the gates. The majority of the Port’s aviation department offices are located in Terminal 1.

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 of Oakland International, which is exclusively served by Southwest Airlines, has a baggage claim area and ticketing desks, with security checkpoint in the center and access to gates 20–25 and gates 26–32. At T2's gate 20 is the connector to T1's gates 1–17. While pre-security offers a coffee shop and newsstand, all other concessions are located in post-security at gates.

Passenger

Cargo

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes to and from OAK
(August 2017 – July 2018)^[47]

Rank	City	Passengers	Annual Change	Carriers
1	Los Angeles, California	600,770	0.01%	Delta, Southwest, Spirit
2	Las Vegas, Nevada	509,240	8.55%	Allegiant, JetSuiteX, Southwest, Spirit
3	Seattle/Tacoma, Washington	434,210	4.24%	Alaska, Southwest
4	San Diego, California	420,050	3.72%	Southwest
5	Burbank, California	417,760	5.86%	JetSuiteX, Southwest
6	Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona	342,010	1.97%	American, Southwest
7	Orange County, California	314,330	2.81%	Southwest
8	Long Beach, California	297,570	0.49%	JetBlue, Southwest
9	Portland, Oregon	279,320	0.14%	Alaska, Southwest
10	Ontario, California	263,520	5.80%	Southwest

Busiest international routes from OAK (2017)^[48]

Rank	City	Passengers	Carriers
1	London–Gatwick, United Kingdom	91,979	British Airways, Norwegian Air Shuttle
2	Barcelona, Spain	76,857	Level, Norwegian Air Shuttle
3	Guadalajara, Mexico	56,411	Volaris
4	Stockholm–Arlanda, Sweden	35,256	Norwegian Air Shuttle
5	Puerto Vallarta, Mexico	34,917	Southwest
6	Los Cabos, Mexico	33,904	Southwest
7	Morelia, Mexico	29,309	Volaris
8	Oslo–Gardermoen, Norway	16,501	Norwegian Air Shuttle
9	León/Del Bajío, Mexico	15,738	Volaris
10	Copenhagen, Denmark	15,239	Norwegian Air Shuttle
11	Mexico City, Mexico	5,912	Volaris
12	Terceira, Portugal	2,356	Azores Airlines
13	Tijuana, Mexico	1,608	Volaris

Airline market share

Annual traffic

BART

The Coliseum–Oakland International Airport line, also known as BART to OAK Airport, is an automated guideway transit (AGT) system that connects BART Coliseum station and Oakland International Airport (BART station) terminal buildings. The AGT vehicles depart from the airport and Coliseum station every five minutes during daily peak hours, and are designed to transport travelers to and from the airport in about eight minutes with an on-time performance of more than 99 percent. The Oakland Airport Connector Project is largely attributable to the work of former BART director and port commissioner Carole Ward Allen who was responsible for securing local, state, and federal funding for the project.^[51][52] Ward Allen advocated for its approval before several transportation authorities, which created between 2,500 and 5,200 direct and indirect jobs.^[53][54][55] Some critics of the project argued that the money would be better spent on supporting existing local transit agencies, which had financial issues at the time.^[53]

The system opened on November 22, 2014.

Amtrak

The Amtrak Capitol Corridor train stops at the BART Coliseum station. The pedestrian walkway connects both platforms.

Bus

There are three AC Transit routes that serve Oakland Airport, one route runs during the daytime and early evenings, one route runs at all times, and the last route runs overnights as a part of the Bay Area's All Nighter bus network:

• Route 21 provides daytime and early evening service from the airport to the Dimond District via Bay Farm Island, Alameda, and Fruitvale, making a limited connection with the Alameda Harbor Bay Ferry at Bay Farm Island, and a full-time connection with BART at Fruitvale station.^[56]
• Route 73 provides 24/7 service from the airport to the Eastmont Transit Center in East Oakland via Hegenberger Road and 73rd Avenue, connecting with Amtrak's Capitol Corridor service and BART at Oakland Coliseum station. This route provides a cheaper alternative to the Coliseum–Oakland International Airport line.^[57]
• Route 805 is an All Nighter service from the airport to the 12th Street Oakland City Center BART station in Downtown Oakland. Route 805 supplements Route 73 service to the Eastmont Transit Center before traveling north on MacArthur Boulevard and Grand Avenue to the 12th Street Oakland City Center station, making a limited connection with Amtrak's Capitol Corridor service at Oakland Coliseum station, and additional limited connections with BART at Oakland Coliseum station and 19th Street Oakland station.^[58]

Two private bus companies provide daily service from the airport to various destinations in the North Bay:

• Evans Transportation provides service from the airport to Napa and Vallejo.^[59]
• Sonoma County Airport Express provides service from the airport to Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, San Rafael, and Santa Rosa, making a connection with SMART at the San Rafael Transit Center station.^[60]

Road

Oakland International is accessible from Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) which is 2 miles (3 km) away. The airport can be reached by exiting Hegenberger Road or 98th Avenue heading west; both streets converge into Airport Road before looping around in front of the terminals.

Taxi

Taxis depart from designated taxi zones located at both Terminal 1 and 2 airport curbside.

Transportation Network Companies such as Lyft, Uber and Wingz are available via their respective mobile apps and pick up and drop off at the curbside terminals.