London Oxford Airport Embarks on Major Development
/London Oxford Airport (EGTK) has commenced construction work on a new development phase. Central to the work is a 63,000 sq. ft. (6,000m2) 140m long hangar with two bays including rear offices, stores and workshops, capable of accommodating up to six Bombardier Global, Gulfstream or Dassault Falcon Jet models, simultaneously. The new hangar, the airport’s 15th, is the first facility in a new zone of the airport to the north of the original site.
The airport will progressively replace 80-year-old hangars with new, environmentally efficient facilities, which will support existing aircraft and future next-gen aircraft, including eVTOL and hybrid/electric models.
A large area of new aircraft parking apron has been created as well as seven new ICAO/EASA/CAA-compliant helipads supporting Airbus Helicopters and the growing number of commercial AOC helicopter businesses at the airport like MyHeli. These complement operations with the co-owned Edmiston London Heliport, London’s only CAA-licensed heliport, which supports up to 12,000 movements year and the capital’s essential police and air ambulance flights.
London Oxford Airport will also commence work on a new fire station to be established in a central position on the airport. Three new Angloco Scania 26 ton fire tenders have been ordered.
New fuel farm, ready for non-fossil fuel
A new fuel farm will enable a quadrupling of the capacity of the original facility, providing future space for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The industry is progressively introducing SAF with up to 80% reduction in lifecycle CO2 emissions.
Last year saw the establishment of a new 100-room hotel at the entrance of the airport at the Oxford Technology Park, creating more jobs and a great new amenity on the doorstep.
Effective May 17th, the airport has opened up to non-essential travel in accordance with the UK Government’s easing of Covid-related constraints. Despite the constraints, however, the airport saw a five-fold increase in business flights in April compared with 2020.