Oxford Airport announces Oxfordjet - New private aviation terminal on schedule for July opening

08 May 2008 - Global Business Jet (website)

Oxford Airport announces Oxfordjet - New private aviation terminal on schedule for July opening Oxfordjet will be the name of Oxford Airport's brand new first class business aviation terminal, management announced today, 8 May. Building work on the new facility commenced last month and is on schedule for completion mid July.

Managing Director Steve Jones and his team, including newly appointed Customer Services Manager David Surley, who joins from Air Mauritius this month, will participate at EBACE 2008, Europe's premier show for business aviation in Geneva (20-22 June) to highlight the airport's ease of access appeal as an alternative 'London' base for this buoyant market sector. (Stand 1447)

The Oxfordjet facility, which will cater for private jet traffic crew and passengers, will have triple the space of the existing general aviation terminal, with a fresh, modern design and amenities akin to a smart boutique hotel. The new terminal represents the first phase of a major investment by Oxford Airport's joint owners, international property developers the Reuben Brothers and Dawnay Day, who purchased it last summer from BBA Aviation. It also reflects the fact that business aviation at the airport has doubled over the past three years.

"We are excited about the progress of the new Oxfordjet facility which will enable us to further build on the business aviation activity we are enjoying," said Steve Jones. (Currently, Oxford Airport averages about 10 business jet movements a day.) "We have a lower cost base, compared with the London airports which cater for business aviation, are less than an hour's drive from the west end of London and importantly, we have slot availability," he added.

Overlooking the main business aircraft apron, Oxfordjet will give crews easy access to their aircraft. Separate lounges will be provided for crews with additional rest areas, along with VIP and 'VVIP' zones for passengers, assuring maximum anonymity and privacy. Private shower rooms, a crew kitchen, bar and meeting rooms, together with customs and immigration facilities will also be provided for within the new facility. The new business terminal will offer a relaxing environment with a contemporary twist.

NASP security compliance (passenger and baggage security screening) will be available to public transport operations, whilst the enhanced scale of the terminal will allow for the occasional charter of regional airliners, which are now welcome at Oxford with its new wider and strengthened runway and the anticipated higher RFFS Category 6 (fire category).

Oxford Airport to welcome larger business jets ...

Early this year Oxford Airport completed the construction of a new large aircraft apron. The new 3,500m_, high bearing strength apron is suitable for larger business aircraft up to the size and weight of the Boeing Business Jet and Airbus A318 Elite.

"With our new wider and stronger runway completed last summer, Oxford Airport is able to accommodate heavier business jets such as the Global Express and Gulfstream V (550), together with regional aircraft such as the BAe 146 family and the Bombardier Q400," says Steve Jones. (A Q400 in Flybe colours, trialled the new runway in November last year.) The new high bearing strength apron will allow us to accommodate aircraft with maximum weights in excess of 77 tonnes," he said.

"Furthermore, with the recent acquisition of a third, large capacity fire tender, which will ultimately enable the airport to raise its fire and rescue cover (RFFS) to Category 6 on demand, we are able to ensure that larger aircraft have regular access to Oxford in the future," he added.

Increased opening hours

Oxford Airport's opening hours as a fully licensed airfield increased in January from 0630hrs to 2230 hrs. Weekend access is also improved with an additional two hours' cover each day, although from July these hours will be standard seven days a week. Earlier departures to compensate for the hour's time difference with continental Europe and the ability to take long range overnight flights to Russia and beyond will now be better catered for.

This improvement in opening times gives Oxford Airport a notable advantage over other business airports such as Farnborough, London City, Biggin Hill and Northolt, with the potential to accept traffic from 0600hrs to midnight through progressive improvements to the opening hours over the next two years.

"Throughout 2008, there will be further enhancements at the airport, specifically for the business aviation sector, including more hangar facilities to add to the 170,000 sq.ft. already established. We are especially pleased to offer an increase in the opening hour availability. Unlike several restricted airports around London, Oxford has the potential to be available from 06:00hrs to midnight, seven days a week," said Jones. Oxford Airport has the capacity to handle up to 160,000 movements a year. In 2007, it accepted a total of 50,000, (36% of them flying school traffic from Oxford Air Training). "We have plenty of capability to welcome UK and overseas operators," he added.

Just over an hour's drive away from the west end of London, Oxford Airport represents a very convenient, unconstrained alternative to the established 'London' airport choices, outside of the congested London TMA (terminal movement area) airspace without any capacity or slot issues. Oxford's costs are considerably lower than the usual 'London' airport options. Furthermore, it is notable that traffic volumes on the M1 to Luton are over 120% more than that found on the M40 to Oxford, whilst volumes are 70% higher on the M3 to Farnborough. (Source: DfT (www.dft-matrix.net).