Delegates from six continents convene in Oakland for the air service development conference

Oakland, Calif. – July 14, 2023: Oakland International Airport is hosting the Air Service World Congress at the Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Resort in Oakland. In attendance will be delegates from 26 airlines plus airports and aviation companies worldwide. This event is an opportunity for OAK to raise its profile within the industry and highlight its extraordinary location in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area.  

The conference begins on Monday, July 17th, with a Welcome to Oakland reception hosted by Visit Oakland. On Tuesday, the airport and Visit Berkeley will host a networking reception atop Cal Memorial Stadium on the University of California campus. The conference, with hundreds of airline/airport bilateral meetings concluded, wraps up on Wednesday, July 19th.  

“This event is a unique opportunity for us to showcase the East Bay to dozens of airlines, all of which are welcome at OAK,” says Craig Simon, Acting Director of Aviation for the Port of Oakland. “This will give airline decision makers first-hand experience that OAK is the home airport to most Bay Area residents and nearest to most of the companies in the Bay Area. OAK is centrally located and is typically closer to a traveler’s true destination.” 

OAK is partnering with Visit Oakland, Visit Berkeley, and Visit Tri-Valley to provide world-class hospitality at the event. Representatives from each will also attend the congress and host an East Bay Lounge for delegates to visit in between meetings. 

“We are excited about this event because everyone visiting Oakland and the East Bay prefers to use Oakland International. More flights to OAK will lead to more visitors,” says Peter Gamez, President, and CEO of Visit Oakland. 

“There is no question that those visiting the Tri-Valley cities of Dublin, Danville, Pleasanton, Livermore, and San Ramon quickly discover what those of us that live here already know: using OAK saves time and gets you in and out on time, too,” said Tracy Farhad, President, and CEO of Visit Tri-Valley. 

“OAK is the most convenient and reliable way to get to and from Berkeley. As the Official Airport of Cal Athletics and the preferred option for UC Berkeley students, families, fans and staff, OAK is truly the best gateway to Berkeley and the entire East Bay,” said Barbara Hillman, President, and CEO of Visit Berkeley. “We look forward to sharing what makes Berkeley and the East Bay such a wonderful travel destination with the Air Service World Congress,” she added. 

Air Service World Congress is a unique event to help airports and airlines rebuild long-haul and regional connectivity. The annual event brings together network planners from airlines and air service development professionals from airports and tourism bodies for two days of intensive networking. The event format allows maximum networking opportunities to ensure that attendees can meet all their key targets over the course of the three-day event.