New Toll-Free Number Will Provide Oakland International Airport Travelers with Ground Transportation and Parking Information

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Cyndy Johnson, (510) 577-4271
After Hours, (510) 577-4067rn

Oakland, CA, February 13, 2002 - Travelers using Oakland International Airport now have an easy way of getting assistance with ground transportation and parking services through a partnership between the airport and RIDES for Bay Area Commuters, Inc. (RIDES).

Travelers can call 1-888-IFLYOAK (435-9625), a toll-free nationwide hotline, for comprehensive information on ground transportation options, driving instructions and other information essential for getting to or departing from Oakland International Airport in advance of their arrival.

RIDES transportation consultants will answer the inquiries from 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time), Monday through Friday. Callers requesting service after office hours will be handled through an automated telephone menu system, or they can leave a voicemail message that will be responded to by a RIDES representative within 24-hours.

"We are delighted to have RIDES as a travel partner to assist us with making our customers' travel experience as pleasant and efficient as possible," said Aviation Director Steve Grossman. "Oakland International Airport continues to attract more new customers annually and we want to ensure that travelers both from the Bay Area and outside of the area have access to the information they need, whether via the Internet or by calling a toll-free phone number."

RIDES currently hosts similar information operations for San Francisco International Airport and Pacific Bell Park.

RIDES was established in 1977 as a private non-profit corporation to provide comprehensive ridesharing and vanpooling services to major employers and employees in the nine counties which comprise the San Francisco Bay region. Today, RIDES works with public partners, such as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Bay Area Air Quality Management District and Oakland International Airport, to support a full-range of transportation demand management services that enhance commuter mobility, reduce congestion, save energy and improve air quality.

Oakland International Airport served 11.4 million passengers and handled more than 600,000 metric tons of air cargo in 2001. Oakland International has nearly 200 flights a day on 11 domestic and international carriers to 32 nonstop destinations, including the Hawaiian Islands, the New York area, Atlanta and Mexico. The airport is a revenue division of the Port of Oakland, an independent department of the city of Oakland.

Oakland International has the fewest weather-related flight delays in the Bay Area. It is the only Bay Area airport with a dedicated shuttle bus that meets every Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system train at the nearby Coliseum station. On-airport parking rates are $18/day in the long-term (Daily) lot and $15/day in the economy/overflow lots. Visit the airport's Web site at www.oaklandairport.com for more information.