Passenger experience improvements introduced at OAK
Oakland, Calif. –February 3, 2025: Oakland Airport (OAK) reports over 10.8 million total passengers served in 2024. This represents a 3.7 percent dip compared to 2023. OAK’s cargo volumes for the year totaled 1.08 billion pounds, a decrease of 3.1 percent compared to the prior year. While passengers and cargo decreased slightly at OAK from 2023, many improvements and new concessions were completed to enhance customer experience at the airport’s facilities in 2024.
“I’m proud of our airport team for their hard work in 2024 towards making OAK the best that it can be for our passengers,” said Port of Oakland Director of Aviation Craig Simon. “I thank the millions of people that chose to fly OAK last year, and we look forward to welcoming them back for their travels in 2025.”
Top developments at OAK in 2024 include:
- New airlines:
- Advanced Air launched service to Crescent City in March (replacing Contour Airlines).
- Sun Country Airlines launched their OAK operation in May with summer seasonal service to Minneapolis/St. Paul.
- Viva held their inaugural flight to Monterrey in July and added an additional route to Guadalajara in December.
- New destinations:
- Volaris Airlines began new service to Monterrey in July.
- Delta Air Lines began service to their hub in Atlanta in June.
- New concessions:
- Two new restaurants opened at the airport last year. Those include Cancún Sabor Mexicano which opened in May and A16 Pizza in July. Both new restaurants are located in Terminal 1. Forge Pizza also opened earlier this month in Terminal 2.
- The airport began construction on its new retail program, which includes 16 new storefronts. The new stores will feature goods from Bay Area small businesses. The first new store, East Bay Trails, opened for business in December.
- Terminal improvements:
- Initial phases were completed on the Terminal 1 Check-In Counter Replacement after construction kicked off in August.
- Construction began on Phase 1 of the Terminal Restroom Renovation Project, encompassing new and improved restrooms plus gender-neutral facilities and a mother’s nursing suite. The first renovated restroom will be opening in February.
- The airport’s pet therapy program, Canine Comfort at OAK, was launched in June in partnership with Valley Humane Society. The volunteer team visits with passengers in the terminals every Monday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
- A new, refreshed iflyoak.com was launched, including a new website tool, WhereWeFly. The tool allows customers to easily see all of the airline and destination options available at OAK.
- OAK was awarded Level Three Airport Carbon Accreditation within Airports Council International’s Airport Carbon Accreditation program. The award is a testament to the continued commitment of the OAK and its partners to reduce emissions at the airport.
- Craig Simon was appointed Director of Aviation, overseeing the operation of the airport.
- The Final Environmental Impact Report for the airport’s proposed Terminal Modernization and Development Project was certified by the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners in November, paving the way for a bright future for OAK.
Developments to come at OAK in 2025:
- Completion of Phase 1 of the Restroom Renovation is expected late summer, adding new modern finishes, gender-neutral facilities, and a mother’s nursing suite in Terminal 1.
- The Terminal 1 Check-in Counter Replacement Project is expected to complete its final phases in the first quarter.
- 15 additional retail stores will open for business as construction continues on the new retail program.
- New destinations:
- Volaris Airlines will begin Los Cabos service in March, the airline’s first foray into a popular leisure destination for US-based vacation travelers.
- Volaris Airlines’ new Zacatecas service will begin in July.
- New restaurants:
- District is expected to open in Terminal 2 in March, based on the Oakland streetside restaurant of the same name.
- Construction is expected to begin on Trader Vic’s, the final new restaurant to be introduced under the airport’s refreshed Food and Beverage program.