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Travel and Transport Oxford airport's business aviation centre on course for summer launch
Travel and Transport Oxford airport's business aviation centre on course for summer launch | Oxford airport's business aviation centre on course for summer launch |
| Written by News Desk | |
| Thursday, 27 March 2008 | |
 A CGI of the new executive aviation centre The new facility replaces the existing general aviation facility and will offer more space and a fresh, modern design. Oxford Airport is working toward offering a fully fledged executive handling operation, for which management is currently recruiting for a customer services manager and up to five customer service representatives. A new airport manager is also being sought for later this year, when the current manager Doug Roberts retires. Furthermore, the airport envisages the creation of up to 20 more jobs over the next six months in administrative and operations positions as it focuses on the expanding business aviation market. The move comes at a time when its movements and corresponding noise and emissions have decreased by 67 per cent over the last 10 years mainly due to a decline in the historically dominant pilot training traffic. On the positive side, business-related aviation at the airport has doubled over the past three years, currently bringing in about 10 visits a day. The new terminal, specifically designed to cater for this market, represents the first phase of investment by Oxford Airport’s new owners, who purchased it last summer from BBA Aviation. Oxford Airport managing director, Steve Jones said: “Business aviation is the most buoyant sector in the market right now and we are extremely well placed to build on the activity we are currently generating. “We have a lower cost base, compared with the London airports which cater for business aviation, are an hour’s drive from the west end of London and importantly, we have slot availability to offer an extremely appealing alternative,” said Overlooking the main business aircraft apron, the airport’s new facility will give crews easy access to their aircraft, offering amenities more akin to those in a smart ‘boutique’ hotel. Separate lounges will be provided for crews with additional rest areas, along with VIP and ‘VVIP’ zones for passengers, assuring maximum anonymity and privacy. Private shower rooms, a crew kitchen and meeting rooms, together with police, customs and immigration facilities will also be provided for within the new facility. The new business terminal will offer a relaxing environment with a contemporary twist and will cater for fly-in board meetings with private meeting rooms available for hire. NASP security compliance (passenger and baggage security screening) will be available to charter operations, whilst the enhanced scale of the terminal will allow for the occasional charter of small regional aircraft (up to 50-seats’ capacity), which are now welcome at Oxford with its new runway and the anticipated higher rescue and fire fighting category. From March, Oxford Airport will be fully licensed from 0630 to 2230hrs whilst access is permitted from 06:00hrs to midnight. This gives Oxford a notable advantage over other business airports such as Farnborough, London City, Biggin Hill and Northolt. “Throughout 2008, there are planned to be further enhancements at the airport, specifically for the business aviation sector, including more hangar facilities to add to the 170,000 sq.ft. already established. This will both retain and entice more aviation companies into the airport and indirectly create more jobs,” said Steve Jones. Oxford Airport has the capacity to handle up to 160,000 movements a year. In 2007, it only saw 50,000, the lowest on record, of which 36% was flying school traffic from Oxford Aviation Academy.
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