Oakland International Airport

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Oakland International Airport Template:Airport codes, also known as Metropolitan Oakland International Airport, is an airport located 4 miles (6 km) south of downtown Oakland in Alameda County, California. One of three international airports in the San Francisco Bay Area, airlines serving Oakland International provide service to numerous destinations in the United States, as well as Mexico. It has proven a popular alternative to San Francisco International, thanks largely to a heavy Southwest Airlines presence. In 2004, 14.3 million passengers used the airport.[1]

Oakland International is popular with low cost airlines and in recent years has been one of the nation's fastest growing airports. Currently, Oakland International Airport serves as a focus city for two low cost carriers, ATA Airlines as well as JetBlue Airways. A $1.4 billion dollar expansion project currently underway is expected to be completed by 2009. The project includes the addition of five gates to Terminal 2, expected to be open in the fall of 2006. Following the completion of those gates, Terminal 1 will be renovated and expanded by seven gates.

In addition to airline operations, Oakland International is a large general aviation airport. Airline operations use the South Field (runway 11/29), while general aviation uses the North Field (runways 9R/27L, 9L/27R, and 15/33). In 2004, OAK had 339,163 aircraft movements (take-offs or landings), and was the 30th busiest airport in the United States. It used to serve as one of Alaska Airlines maintenance facilities until it closed in 2004 when the carrier cut jobs.

Contents

[edit] History

Construction of the airport began in 1927, and the airport was dedicated by Charles Lindbergh that September. In its early days, 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.

Boeing Air Transport (a predecessor of United Airlines) began scheduled flights to Oakland in December 1927. It was joined by Trans World Airlines in 1932.

In 1943, the U.S. Armed Forces took over Oakland Airport and transformed it 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, and PSA.

The airport's first jet-age airline terminal (now Terminal 1) was opened in 1962, part of a $20 million expansion and renovation project. The 16-gate facility featured the airport's first jetways. 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 scheduled flights outside the United States for the first time.

After the war, Oakland's traffic slumped, but airline deregulation prompted several low-fare carriers to begin regional flights into the airport. This rapid increase prompted the airport to build a $16.3 million second terminal, Lionel J. Wilson Terminal 2, with seven new gates for PSA and AirCal service.

FedEx opened a cargo base in Oakland 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 does have international arrival facilities, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. However, international service beyond Mexico has been sporadic. In the past, Corsair served Orly Airport in Paris, France and Papeete, Tahiti. Oasis Hong Kong Airlines has stated an intention to serve Hong Kong from Oakland sometime after October 2006.

United Airlines vacated its 300,000 square foot Oakland Maintenance Center in May 2003 and transferred work to its remaining maintenance hub at San Francisco International Airport. UPS has expressed an interest in this location.

[edit] Terminals, airlines and destinations

Image:Two 737s.jpg
Two Boeing 737s at Oakland International Airport - one operated by Southwest and the other by Alaska.

Oakland International Airport has two terminals, connected by an airside walkway:

[edit] Terminal 1

[edit] Terminal 2

  • Southwest Airlines (Albuquerque, Boise, Baltimore/Washington [ends October 4], Burbank, Chicago-Midway, Denver, Houston-Hobby, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Ontario, Orange County, Philadelphia [ends October 4], Phoenix, Portland (OR), Reno/Tahoe, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle/Tacoma, Spokane)

[edit] Incidents and accidents

On June 3, 2007, Southwest Airlines flight 3050, en route to San Diego, made an emergency landing at Oakland after it experienced landing gear problems upon departure from Sacramento. There were no injuries among the 114 passengers and 5 crew.<ref>http://www.ktvu.com/news/13434725/detail.html</ref> The 10,000 foot primary runway at Oakland was temporarily closed after the landing until a crane could be hired from Phoenix, AZ to move the disabled aircraft. During the closure, commercial carrier aircraft began using the shorter 6,212 foot runway, causing some delays due to increased taxi times.

[edit] Facilities

Metropolitan Oakland International Airport covers 2,900 acres and has four runways spread across two fields:

  • South Field (Commercial and cargo operations):
    • Runway 11/29: 10,000 x 150 ft. (3,048 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt
  • North Field (General aviation operations):
    • Runway 9R/27L: 6,212 x 150 ft. (1,893 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt
    • Runway 9L/27R: 5,454 x 150 ft. (1,662 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt
    • Runway 15/33: 3,372 x 75 ft. (1,028 x 23 m), Surface: Asphalt

A number of general aviation FBOs are located on the North Field:

  • Transient aircraft support
    • Business Jet Center
    • Kaiser Air
  • Flight schools
    • Alameda Aero Club [2]
    • Lou Fields Aviation
    • Oakland Flyers [3]
    • Silver State Helicopters [4]
  • Repair operations
    • Oakland Aircraft Maintenance
  • Other
    • Aerial Advertising Services
    • Oakland Western Aerospace Museum [5]

[edit] Ground Transportation

[edit] Public

Oakland International is not directly connected to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, but AirBART shuttle buses and AC Transit's Line 50 take passengers back and forth between the terminal and the Coliseum/Oakland Airport station. (Both buses have a layover in front of Terminal 1; Terminal 2 passengers are picked up afterwards). A peoplemover or monorail connection between BART and the terminal is in an advanced planning stage; while the mode of the connection has yet to be determined, it will be fully integrated into the BART fare system. The connection is due to be completed around 2011. May 16th, 2007 brought the announcement of help for the project by the Federal Transit Administration, including possible financing. <ref>http://www.insidebayarea.com/search/ci_5916610</ref>

[edit] Road

Oakland International is accessible from Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) which is 2 miles 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.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

<references/>

[edit] External links

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