'Tis the Season for Winter Holiday Travel at Oakland International Airport

OAK to See More Travelers, More Flights, and More Destinations
Holiday Passengers Forecast at 10.5% Above 2014

Oakland, CA - December 21, 2015: This holiday season has the Oakland International Airport (OAK) wrapping up the year with an abundance of holiday travelers stirring through its terminals. The airport expects 613,000 travelers to pass through its gates as passengers make their way home, abroad, and elsewhere for the holidays this year. In keeping with the airport's growth trend, the heavy holiday travel period - which kicked off on December 18 and extends through January 4 - is seeing numbers up, as last year's counts during the same period were 550,000.

The heaviest travel days during the holiday travel period are expected to be December 18 with 38,000 passengers, and December 27 at 40,000.

Oakland International's passenger numbers have increased each month for the last two years. The growth story includes more flights available to more destinations from OAK than ever, with the number of airline seats for sale up 9 percent over the same period last year. The number of passengers traveling during the holidays this year is forecast at a 10.5% increase from 2014.

Having just celebrated its first year, BART to OAK is contributing to an easier and more convenient travel experience. The service, which has served over 1 million riders, connects riders from trains to planes every 5 minutes during peak periods between the Coliseum Station and Oakland Airport Station.

"We are committed to providing our customers with a travel environment that is safe, easy, and relaxing during the holidays and throughout the year,” said Kristi McKenney, Port of Oakland Acting Director of Aviation." Offering more flights, more destinations, and convenient rail service into the airport are just a few ways that we're showing that OAK is better positioned than ever to deliver the most customer-friendly airport experience in the Bay Area.”

TIPS FOR HOLIDAY TRAVEL:
Park Close at OAK
Parking within short walking distance of passenger terminals is available at OAK. Holiday travelers can also take advantage of discounted online parking offers, including $4 off each day in the Economy lot and $8 off per day in the Premier, Hourly or Daily lots over the holiday. Visit oaklandairport.com/parking for details.
For added savings and convenience this season, travelers with holiday trips to Europe or Hawaii can park at OAK for free for up to 5 days.   To take advantage of this special offer, travelers must visit oaklandairport.com/parkfree and follow instructions for easy enrollment.

Ground Transportation
The Oakland International Airport BART Station provides a direct connection to the entire BART system from the curbside of the OAK passenger terminals. Fare and real time departure information are available at www.bart.gov. AC Transit bus service, taxis, area shuttle and charter options, and car-sharing services such as Uber, Lyft, and Wingz are also available.

Other Travel Tips
For packing tips that will save time at security checkpoints, travelers can visit the Transportation Security Administration website at www.tsa.gov.

OAK recommends that travelers check departure time with their airline before going to the airport, as well as arriving at the airport 90 minutes prior to domestic departures and three hours for international departures to allow for increased passenger volume at airline check-in and security screening areas. Visit www.oaklandairport.com for more information.

Members of the news media needing information or assistance in reporting news about Oakland International Airport may call the airport's 24-hour Media Hotline at (510) 563-6500.

About Oakland International Airport
Oakland International is the fourth largest airport in California and second largest in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 11 million travelers each year, OAK is the closest airport to the region's top tourism and entertainment venues. It is also the closest for most local residents.

The airport currently offers air service to 52 destinations on 13 different airline brands -seven of which operate with OAK as their sole gateway into the San Francisco Bay region.

The vision of Oakland International Airport is to offer customers a world-class experience and be the airport of choice for Bay Area residents and visitors alike. OAK is operated by The Port of Oakland, which also oversees the Oakland seaport and 20 miles of waterfront. Together with its business partners, the Port supports more than 73,000 jobs in the region and nearly 827,000 jobs across the United States.

For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps, and details on shopping, dining, transportation, and more, visit www.oaklandairport.com.