The True Size Of Oakland International Airport

Oakland International Airport (OAK) is located in Oakland, California, about 10-12 miles from downtown Oakland and 12 miles from downtown San Francisco. The airport covers 2,600 acres of land and has two terminals with a total of 29 gates. OAK is the fourth largest airport in California and the second largest in the San Francisco Bay Area. It serves as a hub for FedEx Express and an operating base for Southwest Airlines, offering domestic and international passenger flights as well as cargo flights to various destinations.

Oakland International Airport's location

Oakland International Airport (IATA: OAK, ICAO: KOAK, FAA LID: OAK) is located in Oakland, California, United States. The airport is situated 7 miles (11 km) south of downtown Oakland and 12 miles (19 km) east of San Francisco, serving the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. The airport is conveniently accessible by various means of transportation, including public options like BART, AirBART, Amtrak, and AC Transit, as well as private options such as car rentals, shuttles, limousines, and taxis.

The airport is strategically positioned near Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway), which is just 2 miles (3 km) away via Hegenberger Road or 98th Avenue when heading west. This makes it easily reachable for those travelling by car or other private means. Oakland International Airport is owned and managed by the Port of Oakland, and it spans across 2,600 acres (1,100 hectares) of land.

Oakland International Airport has a rich history, with the city of Oakland considering the construction of an airport as early as 1925. The airport's development was accelerated by the announcement of the Dole Air Race from California to Hawaii, leading to the purchase of 680 acres (280 hectares) of land in April 1927. During World War II, the U.S. Armed Forces temporarily took over the airport in 1943, converting it into an airlift base for military flights to the Pacific islands.

In the post-war years, Oakland International Airport experienced a slump in traffic, but airline deregulation attracted several low-fare carriers, leading to the construction of a second terminal, the Lionel J. Wilson Terminal 2. The airport has continued to expand and modernize its facilities, with plans for a third passenger terminal in the early stages of planning. Today, Oakland International Airport offers domestic passenger flights across the United States and international flights to Mexico, El Salvador, and seasonal European service. It also handles cargo flights to China and Japan.

The airport's history

Oakland International Airport in California, United States, has a rich history as a starting place for long journeys and has experienced significant growth since its early beginnings in the 1920s. The city of Oakland first considered constructing an airport in 1925, and the announcement of the Dole Air Race from California to Hawaii in April 1927 provided the incentive to purchase 680 acres of land for the airport. The airport was ready by July 1927 for pilot Ernie Smith and navigator Emory Bronte to take part in the race. Oakland Airport was dedicated by Charles Lindbergh on 17 September.

In its early days, Oakland Airport was the departing point for fuel-heavy aircraft due to its long runway. Boeing Air Transport (a predecessor of United Airlines) began scheduled flights to Oakland in December 1927, and in 1929, Boeing opened the Boeing School of Aeronautics on the field. In 1932, Trans World Airlines (TWA) joined Boeing in operating from Oakland.

During World War II, Oakland Airport became the marshal point for all planes bound for the US forces in the Pacific. As a result, all of Oakland's commercial flights were diverted to San Francisco Municipal Airport, arguably beginning a pattern of making San Francisco International the preferred airport for the Bay Area. In 1943, the US Armed Forces temporarily took over Oakland Airport and transformed it into an airlift base for military flights to the Pacific islands.

After the war, airlines slowly returned to Oakland, and in 1946, Western Airlines began flights to Los Angeles, followed by American Airlines in 1947. Oakland became a hub for non-scheduled and supplemental air carriers, with several large companies basing their headquarters there. Oakland also became one of the largest overhaul and maintenance operations in the country when Aircraft Engine and Maintenance Company (AEMCO) processed thousands of aircraft.

In 1962, Oakland Airport's first Jet Age terminal (now Terminal 1) opened as part of a $20 million expansion. By the mid-1960s, Oakland was handling 15 airline flights per day, including nine from San Francisco. In 1963, TWA flew Oakland's first scheduled jet to Chicago.

During the Vietnam War, World Airways shuttled thousands of military personnel through Oakland to their bases in Southeast Asia, and an international arrivals facility was built. By the 1980s, Oakland had an Executive Terminal and Terminal Two, and it had become a hub for business travel. In 1988, FedEx Express opened an air cargo base at Oakland, which is now one of the busiest air freight terminals in the US.

In recent years, Oakland International Airport has continued to experience growth and development. It has two terminals with a total of 29 gates and handles domestic and international passenger flights, as well as cargo flights to China and Japan. The airport covers 2,600 acres of land and is an operating base for Southwest Airlines.

Passenger terminals

Oakland International Airport (OAK) is an international airport located in Oakland, California, United States. The airport is situated 7 miles (11 km) south of downtown Oakland and 12 miles (19 km) east of San Francisco, serving the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Oakland International Airport has two main passenger terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Terminal 1, located on the western side of the airport, is the older of the two, having opened in 1962. It is home to the majority of airlines operating domestic and international flights. The pre-security terminal facilities are spread across one level, with two check-in and baggage claim areas. The departure concourse is located on the upper level and features 16 gates numbered 1, 3 to 8, 8A, 9, 9A, 10 to 12, 14, 15, and 17. Terminal 1 offers a selection of shops and restaurants, as well as the Escape Lounge, accessible for $45 at the door or $40 online.

Terminal 2, also known as the Lionel J. Wilson Terminal, was constructed in the 1980s as a $16.3 million project to accommodate the airport's growing traffic. It is primarily used by Southwest Airlines for domestic flights. Both terminals are connected inside the secure area and offer curbside access from Airport Drive.

JSX, a separate facility from the main passenger terminals, is also present at Oakland International Airport. The airport is considering a major expansion that would include the construction of a third passenger terminal, with a draft environmental report published in the summer of 2023. This new terminal would have up to 25 gates, and the existing terminals would be condensed into a single terminal with shared ticketing, baggage handling, and security.

Environmental sustainability

Covering 2,600 acres of land, Oakland International Airport (OAK) is located 7 miles south of downtown Oakland and 12 miles east of San Francisco. As a revenue division of the Port of Oakland, the airport takes a leadership role in promoting a sustainable operating environment. The Port of Oakland is an independent department of the city of Oakland and is required to contribute to the city's sustainability goals.

The Port of Oakland has adopted a sustainability policy, also known as the "Three E's," which is based on the values of environmental responsibility, economic vitality, and social equity. In line with this, OAK participates in an institutionalized carbon management certification program to assess and manage airports in reducing their carbon emissions. The program has six levels of certification (Mapping, Reduction, Optimization, Neutrality, Transformation, and Transition) that OAK achieves towards comprehensive carbon management with the goal of lowering the airport’s carbon footprint.

In May 2021, Oakland International Airport began the environmental review process for a proposed Terminal Modernization and Development Project. As the first step in the environmental review process required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Port of Oakland issued the Notice of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

As part of the project, OAK plans to reconfigure cargo facilities and improve roadways, parking, and other support facilities. The airport also has two terminals with a total of 29 gates. To handle the expected growth, the Port of Oakland is considering a major expansion to consolidate and modernize existing terminals while creating a third passenger terminal. This project is in the early stages of planning, with a draft environmental report published in the summer of 2023.

How to get there

Oakland International Airport (OAK) is located 7 miles (11 km) south of downtown Oakland and 12 miles (19 km) east of San Francisco. The airport covers 2,600 acres (1,100 ha) of land and has two terminals with a total of 29 gates.

By Car

If you are driving to Oakland Airport from Hwy 880 north, exit at 98th Avenue and turn left at the stoplight. Continue straight to Bessie Coleman Drive/Airport Drive and the airport. If you are coming from Hwy 880 south, exit at 98th Avenue and turn right at the stoplight. Continue straight to Bessie Coleman Drive/Airport Drive. Use the right lanes for Terminal 1 passenger pick-up and drop-off, and the left lanes for Terminal 2.

For Premier Parking, stay in the left lane on Bessie Coleman Drive/Airport Drive and follow the signs. For Hourly and Daily Parking, also stay in the left lane and follow the signs. For Economy Parking, take the second exit ramp from Bessie Coleman Drive/Airport Drive and turn right at the stoplight, following the signs.

If you are dropping off or picking up a rental car, from 98th Avenue, turn right onto Airport Access Road (which becomes Pardee Drive), then turn left onto Swan Way and right onto Doolittle Drive. Turn left onto Langley Street and you will see the Rental Car Center on your right.

By Public Transport

The BART station is across the street from the OAK terminals, with an 8-minute train ride to the Coliseum BART station, which connects to all other BART destinations. Line 73 connects OAK with the Coliseum/Oakland Airport BART station every 15 minutes between 4:56 a.m. and 12:06 a.m. Line 805 is the late-night service, connecting OAK with the Coliseum/Oakland Airport BART station and downtown Oakland every hour between 12:35 a.m. and 4:30 a.m.

Frequently asked questions