Oakland International Airport projects over half a million passengers for December holidays

Oakland, Calif. – December 7, 2023: Oakland International Airport (OAK) projects that over 500,000 passengers will pass through the airport for the December holiday travel period from Friday, December 15th through Monday, January 1st. According to airline schedules and past TSA (Transportation Security Administration) throughput statistics, the busiest day for travel is expected to be Friday, December 22nd. On that day, the airport will host a post-screening gift-wrapping station for passengers traveling with presents for their loved ones. 

"Happy holidays from all of us at Oakland International Airport! After a busy Thanksgiving, we highly recommend that travelers who Park OAK reserve their parking ahead of time,” says Craig Simon, Interim Director of Aviation at the Port of Oakland. “This year, we’re thanking our passengers for Flying the East Bay Way with some special in-terminal holiday activities.”

As many travelers know, traveling with wrapped gifts is not recommended, as packages may be unwrapped during the TSA screening process. On December 22nd, the airport will host a free post-screening gift-wrapping station in the connecting area between Terminals 1 and 2. Passengers with children may stop by the gift-wrapping station for a complimentary holiday gift bag. There will also be a holiday selfie station and live performances from local musicians for passengers to enjoy.

For customers driving to the airport, OAK recommends making a parking reservation at least one week in advance to guarantee entry into your chosen parking lot. Reservations are discounted and available for as low as $16 per day for customers staying more than five days. Room for non-reservation parking is limited, so we recommend visiting the parking page of the OAK website immediately before driving to the airport. All airport parking is within walking distance of the terminals and available at https://book.oaklandairport.com/. 

Travelers can save time by checking in for their flight before coming to the airport using the airline’s website or mobile application. In case of airline delays or cancellations, be sure to check flight status before coming to the airport. For current TSA wait time information and packing tips, download the MyTSA mobile app. The airport recommends arriving at least two hours prior to departure for domestic travel and three hours prior for international travel. 

Airport concessions and hours of operations can be found here. 

About Oakland International Airport 

Oakland International is the main airport for the greater East Bay, the most populated area in the metropolitan San Francisco Bay area. It is the closest airport to most Bay Area employers. By roadway and BART air-rail, OAK enables excellent access to all of the region’s business, entertainment and tourism venues. The vision of Oakland International Airport is to be the airport of choice for San Francisco Bay Area residents and visitors alike. OAK is operated by the Port of Oakland, which also oversees the Oakland seaport and 20 miles of East Bay waterfront. Together with its business partners, the Port supports more than 98,000 jobs in the region with more than a $174 billion economic impact. 

Updates about current departure and arrival information, airport maps, and details about on-airport parking, shopping and dining and more, can be found at www.oaklandairport.com.

Contact - Members of the Press and Media Only
Kaley Skantz - Airport Spokesperson, [email protected]

Click Here to Access OAK's Media On-Site Request Form 

###