OAK Responds to Customer Feedback with Restrooms Renovations for Terminal 1

-- OAK passengers rate restrooms among the most essential terminal facilities --

The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners adopted a resolution allowing Oakland International Airport (OAK) to move forward with significant improvements to Terminal 1 public restrooms at their regularly scheduled meeting on December 5, 2006. In response to customer feedback, OAK will immediately begin a phased two-year renovation and expansion of older Terminal 1 restrooms with improvements first available to travelers by summer 2007.

Customer surveys and analysis of passenger concerns show that OAK passengers rank the condition and quality of public restrooms high on their list of essential terminal facilities. Travelers want restroom facilities that offer:
1) More stalls;
2) Larger stalls roomy enough for a traveler and his/her carry-on luggage or a young child;
3) Ergonomic layout for improved circulation; and
4) Hands-free fixtures and entrances/exits for increased hygiene.

OAK is responding by renovating and expanding older restrooms in Terminal 1 (all other airlines) and Terminal 2 (Southwest Airlines), and building state-of the-art restrooms in the new Terminal 2 areas.

"Being responsive to our customers is a top priority at the Port of Oakland," said Anthony Batarse, President of the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners. "Travelers choose Oakland International Airport for its low fares and convenience, and our continued focus on improving our terminal facilities gives passengers another reason to fly Oakland."

Renovation of heavy-use Terminal 1 restrooms begins immediately and will be done in phases with the first phase to be completed by summer 2007. Upgrades include the following:
1) Renovating the existing older women's and men's restrooms located behind the United Airlines ticket counter;
2) Expanding and renovating the men's restroom at gate 3;
3) Renovating the women's restroom at gate 4. A future phase of this program includes constructing a brand-new, larger women's restroom in this same area; and
4) Replacing the portable building restrooms located at the west end of Terminal 1 (next to JetBlue Airlines' curbside) with new portable restrooms.

"Oakland International Airport's Terminal 1 serves nearly six million passengers annually in facilities designed for less than three million passengers," said Steve Grossman, Director of Aviation for the Port of Oakland, which owns and operates OAK. "The restroom improvement project will significantly improve the passenger experience until a more comprehensive Terminal 1 renovation program begins in a few years."

Future phases of the Terminal 1 restroom upgrade program include: 1) expanding the restrooms located behind the United Airlines ticket counter; 2) relocating the lightly-used restrooms near the international ticket counters; 3) renovating the international arrivals building restrooms; and 4) possibly constructing new restrooms in Terminal 1 baggage claim.

In the recently-opened Terminal 2 seven-gate concourse, travelers can choose between a family restroom and two sets of roomy restrooms that include an eight-stall women's and two-stall/four-urinal men's. The Terminal 2 baggage claim, opened in July 2006, offers a 17-stall women's and five-stall/seven-urinal men's. All of these facilities are equipped with ADA-compatible stalls and diaper changing stations. These new areas are part of OAK's $300 million Terminal Improvement Program which also includes renovating the older concourse and expanding ticketing and security facilities in Terminal 2, for which restroom upgrades are also included, and improvements to the terminal roadway and curbsides. Program completion is expected in 2008.

Terminal 1 restroom improvements were last completed in fall 2002. This project included a new women's restroom at gate 5 and renovated and expanded restrooms at gates 7, 12 and 15.

OAK has over 200 flights a day on 12 domestic and international carriers to 40 nonstop destinations. The airport is a revenue division of the Port of Oakland, an independent department of the city of Oakland. Visit oaklandairport.com for more information.

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