News Update from London Oxford Airport

Wednesday 17th November, 2010

London Oxford Airport Joins ERA

London Oxford Airport has become the latest UK airport to become a member of ERA (European Regions Airline Association) as part of its strategy to encourage niche, regional services to key business cities. ERA, now in its 30th year, is a non-profit trade association representing almost 200 companies involved in European air transport. Membership comprises airlines, airframe and engine manufacturers, suppliers, service providers and airports from throughout Europe. Oxford Airport’s management intend to be present at the ERA’s spring conference in Malta in April 2011 to increase awareness of the airport within the sector.

The Route Shop / Anna Aero & Routes Online membership

Complementing its ERA partnership, London Oxford Airport has become a member of online routes supermarket The Route Shop, hosted by www.anna.aero. “The Route Shop, dedicated to airline network planning intelligence enables us to present those routes we’d most like to provide from Oxford and identify the airline opportunities most suited to them,” said Head of Route Development & Customer Services, David Surley.

The Airport is also a member of Routes, the on and off-line airline route development community and having attended Routes Europe in Toulouse in May 2010, will be present at Routes Europe 2011 in Cagliari to further establish route launch dialogue with leading European regional carriers. David Surley commented: “Routes Europe is the perfect forum for face-to-face dialogue with Europe’s top regional carriers, a great opportunity to address the scope of Oxford’s booming market and regional economy and draw this to the attention of airlines seeking high value niche new routes.”

Jersey 2011 now on sale

London Oxford Airport’s successful seasonal Jersey charter service for CI Travel Group will resume operations for summer 2011. The service was extended for 2010 from May through to September and was operated by Cityjet VLM, using 50-seat Fokker 50 aircraft. The average load factor was consistent across the summer season and local travel agent and ATOL tour operator Great Experience recorded a ‘staggering’ increase in sales from the region. Tickets are already on sale for summer 2011 and will again operate the full season from May to September.

New fire tender

Mike Sparrow, Airport Manger at London Oxford Airport, this month signed a purchase agreement for a new state of the art fire tender with Seville based ITURRI Group. The airport chose to invest around £500,000 as part of a continuing strategy to upgrade its fire services. The fire engine is the next generation in the ITURRI family of fire tenders and will be the first of its kind to be delivered to an airport in the UK in spring 2011.

Pet Handling

It’s now been a year since London Oxford Airport gained DEFRA approval as only the second General Aviation/Business Aviation Airport in the UK to be approved for the importation of domestic pets. Owners of dogs, cats and ferrets continue to transport their pets on flights into the Airport from overseas under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). Most pampered pets are arriving from Switzerland and France but a recent upsurge in arrivals from Spain indicates that owners are quite happy to commute their furry friends on longer flights. “There has been a steady increase in the number of pets Oxfordjet has handled,” said David Surley, Head of Customer Services. “We have more and more aircraft operators signing-up to the scheme, clearly many jet owners and users see the flexibility of the PETS quarantine exemption process as of paramount convenience and here we make the procedures very accessible, every day.”

Hangar 8 plc

London Oxford-headquartered Hangar 8 plc has raised £2 million by way of a placing on AIM, the London Stock Exchange's international market for smaller growing companies. It aims to use the money to expand its 19-strong managed fleet, which includes the Falcon 2000EX, Challenger 601, Hawker 4000, the Hawker HS125s, Citation XLS, CitationJet and Super King Air.

Oxford’s first MPL pilots join the line at Flybe

The first six pilots to hold the new British multi-crew pilot licences (MPL) started work as first officers in Flybe Bombardier Dash 8 Q400s on November 12th, having undertaken their training at Oxford Aviation Academy (OAA) at London Oxford Airport. OAA was the first training organisation to launch the new course and Flybe now has six more MPL students undergoing training at OAA’s Oxford base.

Attendance at Schedulers and Dispatchers – February 2011

For the third consecutive year, London Oxford Airport will be participating at the NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference being held in Savannah 7-9 February. Head of Customer Services, David Surley and customer services team member Leah Bruton will be highlighting the benefits of the UK’s newest business aviation centre. James Dillon-Godfray, Oxford Airport’s Business Development Director, attended last month’s annual meeting and convention in Atlanta to promote London Oxford Airport as an alternative to London’s more congested business airports.

Hotel partners

Oxfordjet has teamed with the brand new Hotel Verta located at The London Heliport. The London Heliport and Hotel Verta together form “London’s Vertical Gateway” - the first integrated hotel-heliport solution in Europe. Managed by von Essen, Verta is conveniently positioned for business in the Capital. Oxfordjet has exclusive rates that can be booked by the FBO.

Opening in the first week of October, closer to Oxfordjet, is the brand new 4-star deluxe Crowne Plaza Hotel at Heythrop Park, Oxford. With more than 190 guestrooms, a large conference facility and state-of-the-art health club, the Crowne Plaza is part of the Firoka Group and the first major international top-end chain to open a property in Oxford. It is situated just 15 minutes north of the airport at the Heythrop Park Resort, a classic British stately home and golfing retreat. All air crew staying at the hotel while on flying duty through Oxford will be guaranteed “quiet floor” rooms and complimentary health club services.

www.londonoxfordairport.com

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Editor’s Notes:
London Oxford Airport is wholly owned by the Reuben Brothers. The Reuben Brothers’ investment activities include private equity and real estate ownership and development. Investments are predominantly based in the United Kingdom and Europe. Businesses include shopping centres, mixed use commercial real estate, data centres, public houses, hotels and development projects.
London Oxford Airport is ideally positioned as a viable choice for London beyond Heathrow, primarily targeting the north-west of the capital and the Thames Valley region. More than five million people reside within an hour’s drive of the airport with no other commercial airports within easy reach. Located just 40 miles (64km) from Greater London, and with easy access via the M40 motorway, Oxford is served by the fastest and least congested of London’s key arterial routes. Chiltern Railways has also committed to a new rail link connecting Oxford and Marylebone Station, creating a new station for Kidlington (Oxford Airport’s location) with regular services taking just 58 minutes