‘oxfordjet’ facility applauded by corporate travellers

Wednesday 17th September, 2008

xfordjet, Oxford Airport’s brand new business aviation centre has received a positive welcome from its first corporate travellers. The new terminal, which was inaugurated in July this year, has already processed hundreds of executive travellers and an increasing number of larger business jets.

The oxfordjet facility, representing an investment of £2 million, provides triple the space of the previous GA centre, with a fresh, modern exterior design complementing the state-of-the-art facilities within. There are separate lounges for crews, along with VIP and VVIP zones for passengers, assuring maximum privacy. Private shower rooms, a crew kitchen and meeting rooms, together with customs and immigration facilities are featured too. Opposite the new building remains a Starbucks franchised bar and café.

“Initial feedback from charter brokers and private clients is ranking us amongst the best FBOs (fixed base operations) in this country, with customer service to match,” said Steve Jones, Oxford Airport Managing Director. “Business aviation traffic at Oxford is constantly on the increase given the slot constraints being experienced at other business airports. We have doubled the throughput compared with last year. Jet fuel sales are keeping pace too, up over 90% on 2007. oxfordjet is now handling between 10 and 20 rotations most days and we see regular visits from business aircraft including the larger Challengers, Globals, Gulfstream 550s, along with Embraer Legacys.”

Oxford Airport’s opening hours increased earlier this year and the airport is now open from 0630 to 2230. There remains the potential to further extend these opening hours over the next two years from 06:00 to midnight. The improvement in opening times has been complemented by the construction of a high bearing strength apron, enabling the airport to cater for larger business aircraft up to the size and weight of the Airbus A318 Elite or the Embraer Lineage. At the same time, the airport has also upgraded its fire and rescue capability to a Cat 4 RFFS with Cat 5 or 6 to be available on demand this autumn.

Expansion in hangar activity
Hand-in-hand with developments on the passenger side, Oxford Airport is busy expanding its hangar facilities. The building of a new hangar, Hangar 11, will be completed by February 2009 and will be big enough to accommodate an Embraer Lineage business jet or Airbus A318. Hangar 1, the former CSE Aviation hangar, is close to completion, having undergone a total re-fit in preparation for PremiAir to move its fixed wing maintenance to Oxford in early October

Newly named FlairJet prepares to establish home at Oxford

In addition, newly named private jet charter operator FlairJet will operate from Oxford Airport from May 2009, with an initial two Embraer Phenom 100 Very Light Jets. Further options are available for 2010 delivery.

FlairJet, headed by Monarch Airlines’ Captain David Fletcher, is planning a route network of charter services with the four-seat jets, covering mainland Europe, plus UK domestic cities.

Last week the company named Gerry Rolls, former Flight Operations Director at Air Atlantique as its new head of Flight Ops. He will work to secure the company’s Air Operating Certificate (AOC), recruit post holders and pilots and serve as training captain on the Phenom. David Fletcher, who currently flies Airbus A320s, will also fly the Phenom. The company plans to move in to Oxford and has identified the Farmhouse Building, effective early March, 2009.

FlairJet, which is being backed by three London-based lawyers, selected Oxford Airport as its base because of its position outside the congested London TMA (terminal movement area), its strong and affluent catchment area and owners who have pledged considerable investment to make Oxford a first class business aviation airport. Separately, VLJ Consultancy Limited will continue to run as an independent company (with a small staff). It will offer Very Light Jet procurement, certification and management, pilot, engineer and ferry solutions, AOC solutions, aircraft training and mentoring.

Oxford Airport is ideally located within close proximity of the M40, A34, A40 and A44 road networks, providing excellent access from the most lucrative and affluent catchment areas in the country. Equidistant between London and Birmingham, connectivity to Oxford is superb.

Improved rail infrastructure

There are already four rail stations within six miles of Oxford with direct links to Paddington, but in a new development, Chiltern Railways recently announced plans to construct a new station at Kidlington by 2012, which could provide half-hourly services from just 58 minutes duration to London’s Marylebone. Access to Greater London by road via the M40 and M25 is just 45 miles away typically taking approximately 45 minutes.

Steve Jones noted: “Oxford Airport has the mandate to handle up to 160,000 movements a year and we will continue to enhance our facilities throughout 2008 and into 2009. Our costs are notably lower than the usual London airport options and we are very pleased that Oxford now represents a convenient, easy access alternative to the established London airport choices.”