Oasis chairman Ray Lee with UK general manager Gerard Clarke
In London for the Business Travel Show Oasis Hong Kong Airlines chairman Rev Dr Raymond C. Lee confirmed that Oakland Airport, on the other side of San Francisco Bay from the city”s main airport, will be the carrier”s next destination. ”We are hoping for a July start-up,” he said. ”Oakland is a major airport in its own right and is a hub for low cost carriers including Southwest and JetBlue.” A near 15 hour flight, Oasis will need a minimum of two aircraft if it is to service the route on a daily basis.
Lee said since its launch on 26 October the airline has taken more than 70,000 bookings and carried 34,000 passengers with an average 76% load factor out of the UK over the first three months of operation. 97% of the flights operated on time in January ” exceeding the industry average of 75% on the London ” Hong Kong route. The company now employs 308 staff, including 58 pilots.
He was keen to promote the airline”s ”kids go free campaign” which finishes at the end of February, claiming that Oasis was the first long haul airline to go in for such a promotion.
Oasis began services to London last November and straight away ran into trouble with the Russian authorities regarding overflight rights. These problems were quickly resolved. The airline now operates daily between Gatwick and Chep Lap Kok with a pair of ex-Singapore Airlines Boeing 747-400s. There are 81 60” legroom business class seats and 278 in economy with a liberal 32” pitch. At the front end passengers gain a full service operation, whilst those at the back have complimentary tea, coffee and water and a paid for bar. There is a choice of Asian and European meals but for those wishing to book alternative food a pre-booked range is shown on the airline”s web site.