Heads to Alameda County to find out how Oakland International Airport is reinforcing its position as an alternative gateway to Northern California.
When it comes to major gateways, the San Francisco Bay Area of California is particularly well served having three international airports within easy reach. This includes Oakland, which lies in Alameda County on the western side of the bay. The facility was once a haven for lowcost and cargo carriers but, after suffering a slump in air traffic, the airport is now enjoying a resurgence, driven in part by the arrival of international airlines such as Norwegian.
Military Pedigree
Oakland International Airport boasts a rather illustrious past. It was inaugurated by famed aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh in September 1927 and just weeks later was the starting point for the Dole Air Race from California to Hawaii.
The airfield was equipped from the outset with a 7,000ft (2,133m) runway – at that time, the longest in the world. As a result, it served as a springboard to several historically significant flights, including Charles Kingsford Smith’s first transpacific crossing in 1928 and, nine years later, Amelia Earhart’s ill-fated attempt to circumnavigate the globe.
