Oakland, Calif. – Sept. 28, 2011 – ArkeFly, headquartered in Schiphol-Rijk, has announced that they will begin scheduled seasonal service between Oakland International Airport (OAK) and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS). ArkeFly is the airline of Dutch tour operator TUI Nederland and part of the TUI Travel PLC group, Europe’s largest travel conglomerate. ArkeFly’s new twice-weekly service includes a nonstop flight and a direct, one-stop flight, beginning June 7, 2012. The new service is part of the airline’s three city US west coast expansion that includes Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

“Beginning in summer 2012, ArkeFly’s twice-weekly service will produce significant stimulus to the regional economy resulting from over 500 inbound international passengers each week,” said Port Commission President Pamela Calloway. “ArkeFly has made the right decision to choose Oakland International Airport as its San Francisco Bay Area gateway.”

“ArkeFly’s two weekly flights between Oakland International and Amsterdam are a significant development for San Francisco Bay Area travelers and local tourism. This European destination is a significant milestone for OAK as we grow new international service,” said Deborah Ale Flint, Director of Aviation for the Port of Oakland which owns and operates OAK. “Travelers arriving here from Amsterdam will enjoy an easy, efficient airport experience and outstanding access to the many attractions in the San Francisco Bay Area mega-region including San Francisco, Oakland, the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, as well as Yosemite and Lake Tahoe. We also think Bay Area residents will welcome a departure from Oakland International to Europe as an attractive option for their own vacation plans next summer,” she added.

“We’re pleased to offer nonstop service between Amsterdam and the San Francisco Bay Area through the Oakland International Airport gateway,” said ArkeFly CEO Steven van der Heijden. “We look forward to creating many more smiles, like the branded smile on our airplanes, as passengers learn the ease and value of traveling on ArkeFly between Europe and Northern California through convenient and customer-friendly OAK,” he continued.

ArkeFly will operate in OAK’s freshly enhanced international arrivals area in Terminal 1. The nonstop flight to Amsterdam operates on Thursdays, and the one-stop flight - via Los Angeles International Airport - operates on Sundays. The seasonal service runs from June 7 through October 18, 2012.

The airline will use Boeing 767-300ER aircraft which seat 283 passengers in three classes. ArkeFly offers a full range of customer conveniences onboard including a seat back mounted in flight entertainment system and options for extra legroom. Flights between OAK and AMS are on sale now. Visit arkefly.nl (site translated in English here) for more information.

Amsterdam is the first continental European destination added at OAK in recent years. Flights to Mexico City were added to existing service to Guadalajara in May 2011. Seasonal service to the beautiful Azores islands has been available at OAK since 2000. Together, these flights make OAK the fourth largest international gateway in California.

About ArkeFly
ArkeFly is owned by the Dutch travel organization TUI Nederland. It is the only travel organization in the country with its own airline. ArkeFly operates from the Netherlands with a fleet of Boeing 767-300ER and Boeing 737-800 aircraft and offers a three class product: Economy Class (30 inch pitch), Comfort Class (33 inch pitch) and Premium Comfort (37 inch pitch). In 2014, the airline will be the Dutch launch customer for the new B787 Dreamliner. ArkeFly covers more than 60 destinations worldwide. The airline also operates flights to Orlando-Sanford and Miami International twice a week. In March 2011, ArkeFly received a prestigious Schiphol Aviation Award in the category ‘Airline of the Year North & South America 2010.’ TUI Nederland makes it possible to discover the world and enjoy first class holidays at affordable prices.

About the Port of Oakland, CA, USA:
The Port of Oakland oversees 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 nearly 50,000 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, or with the Port on Twitter, YouTube, and at www.portofoakland.com.

Media Contacts:

Rosemary Barnes, Airport Spokesperson
Oakland International Airport
510-563-2892
[email protected]