Steve Jones, Oxford’s Managing Director commented “Private operators using larger types including Gulfstream Vs, Falcon 900s and Challengers have routinely utilised and resided at Oxford enjoying the use of the full 1552m (5,092ft) runway length, allowing in fact for transatlantic capability in some cases. However, until now, many charter aircraft have in the main been restricted by the landing distance available. This positive change helps significantly to open up the capability for jet charter operations”

For the airport this represents a notable advantage in capability and for Europe’s charter and fractional companies it opens up a whole new market – 10% of the UK population live within Oxford’s catchment area, amongst the most prosperous in the country. In the last decade, Oxford’s Cherwell district had the 2nd largest percentage increase in new job creation of 150 UK districts surveyed.

This runway extension will enable at least 15 more business jet models to operate under public transport rules into Oxford. Of the 25 or so current production business jet models, there are 17 that can now do charter operations into Oxford whilst all can easily take off out of Oxford with trans-European range.

Notable aircraft types that can now land at Oxford under public transport rules include the Citationjet (CJ1), Citation II and the Bravo, the Citation 560 series, the Citation 650 series (III, VI, VII), the Hawker 700, 800 and 1000, Learjet 31, 35 and 45 series, the Astra (Gulfstream 100), Falcon 50, 2000 and 900 models and the Challenger 604, Gulfstream V, Global Express and BBJ.

The additional length also allows an aircraft such as the Hawker 800 in typical conditions to now take an additional 4000lbs plus of fuel which could equate to over 1200nm extra range capability. That has huge implications for the viability of any operation using such types for hire and reward out of Oxford.

Just 20 miles further away from London than the likes of Farnborough and Luton on the less congested M40 motorway, Oxford now offers a viable alternative ‘London’ port to UK visitors with costs typically 50% of those at the principle South Eastern business aviation hubs. With excellent operating hours and unconstrained by capacity or opening hour limitations, Oxford offers ease of access and a discreet and flexible alternative today.

For further Information contact:

Oxford Airport
James Dillon-Godfray - Head of Development & Marketing
Tel: 01865 290 710, Fax: 01865 290 605,
E-mail: jdg@oxfordairport.co.uk