Oxfordjet will be the name of Oxford Airport’s new first-class business aviation terminal and handling service, it was announced at EBACE today [MONDAY MAY 19]. Costing around $5 million, building work on the new 7,000ft2 facility began 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, formerly with Air Mauritius, is welcoming EBACE delegates to its stand to highlight the airport’s ease of access appeal as an alternative ‘London base’ for this buoyant market sector.
The Oxfordjet facility, catering for private jet traffic crew and passengers, will have triple the space of the former ‘general aviation’ terminal, with a fresh, modern design and amenities similar 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 bought it last summer from BBA Aviation. It also reflects the fact that business aviation at the airport has doubled over the past three years.
Capital expenditure at the airport has been greater in the past five years than the previous 20 and this includes around $13m spent on resurfacing and widening the runway and upgrading the ILS. The runway is now the same specification and length as London City Airport.
“We are excited about the progress of the new Oxfordjet facility which will enable us further to build on the business aviation activity we are enjoying,” says Jones.
Currently, Oxford Airport averages about ten business jet movements a day. “We have a much lower cost base compared with other London airports that cater for business aviation, we are less than an hour’s drive from the West End of London and, importantly, we have no capacity or slot issues,” he says. Oxford is outside the congested London terminal movement area (TMA) airspace.
Overlooking the main business aircraft apron, Oxfordjet will give crews easy access to their aircraft. Separate lounges will be provided for them 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 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 for public transport operations, while the scale of the terminal will allow for the occasional charter by regional airliners, which are now welcome at Oxford with its new wider and strengthened runway and the anticipated higher fire and rescue cover.
“The recent acquisition of a third, large-capacity fire tender will ultimately enable the airport to raise its fire and rescue cover (RFFS) to Category 6 on demand, enabling larger aircraft to have regular access to Oxford in the future,” says Jones.
While it will now be possible, in theory, for regional airline charter and even scheduled service activity, the management team intends to concentrate on business aviation for the next two to three years, according to Steve Jones. However, Jones envisages turnover, estimated at $10m this year, to increase rapidly to more than £34m over the next five years.
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Source: Flight Daily News
