Oasis Hong Kong Airlines

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Oasis Hong Kong Airlines
甘泉香港航空
IATA
O8		 ICAO
OHK		 Callsign
OASIS
Founded 2005
Hubs Hong Kong International Airport
Fleet size 2
Destinations 1 (6 planned)
Parent company Oasis Hong Kong Airlines
Headquarters Hong Kong
Key people Stephen H. Miller, (CEO) Rev. Raymond C. Lee & Priscilla H. Lee, (Chairman and Executive Director)
Website: http://www.oasishongkong.com/

Oasis Hong Kong Airlines, (Traditional Chinese: 甘泉香港航空有限公司), established in February 2005, is a budget airline based in Hong Kong, with its hub at Hong Kong International Airport. Its inaugral route to London commenced service on October 26, 2006, and there are plans to add more routes to other destinations in Europe and the US. Oasis has a fleet of two ex-Singapore Airlines Boeing 747-412 aircraft.

Oasis Hong Kong Airlines was founded by a Pastor, Rev. Raymond C. Lee, and his wife, Priscilla H. Lee. The chief executive, Steve Miller, was founder and first chief executive of another Hong Kong-based airline, Dragonair.

Oasis is the first long-haul passenger airline to adopt a budget airline model. It offers non-stop service from Hong Kong to London, and is planning routes to Milan (Italy), Berlin, Cologne/Bonn (Germany) and destinations in the U.S. (Oakland, Chicago).

Tickets are sold through the company website and travel agents. One-way economy fares for the Hong Kong-London route start at £75 or HK$1,000 (excluding taxes and charges) for at least 10% of the seats available and include hot meals and inflight entertainment. Business class fares start at £470 or HK$6,600 (excluding taxes and charges).

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Beginnings

The airline's first flight, flight O8 700, took off from Hong Kong International Airport on October 26, 2006, after a one-day delay. The airline had been scheduled to begin operations on October 25, but Russia revoked the London-bound flight's fly-over rights an hour before the flight's scheduled departure. These were reinstated the next day temporarily, allowing the maiden flight to proceed. The return flight too was not without trouble. Departing over 2 hours late and minus 20 passengers who were removed for safety reasons due to two emergency exit doors not working. Flight O8 707 completed the first direct link between London Gatwick Airport and Hong Kong International Airport, via airspaces over Turkey, Middle East and India. This route will be used by Oasis until they are given permanent access to the Russian airspace, this will extend the flight time by 1 hour to 12 hours and 10 minutes between Hong Kong and Gatwick. Oasis has already revised their flight schedule on November 2 due to this temporary change of flight route. They have claimed to be given access to Russian Airspace from December 1, according to the latest official news update.

[edit] Services

One unique selling point for Oasis is that it allows passengers to personalise their trip by purchasing optional services. Seatback entertainment and hot meals are included in the base fare, but passengers can order better food (Gourmet Meal Service), champagne, black forest cake and even cosmetic kits.

Though the airline offers substantially lower fares than other carriers flying the same routes, with a similar level of space as other airlines. The seat pitch of economyOasis is 32" (same or slightly more than other airlines flying between Hong Kong and London), and a businessOasis section offers a 60" seat pitch for business travellers and higher-end leisure passengers. The 747-400 cabins are configured for 81 business and 278 economy passengers.

[edit] Fleet

The first jet served with Iberia Airlines before joining Oasis. Seating configuration is 81 Business Class plus 278 Economy Class.

The aircraft, B-LFA (cn 24063/ln 736), was delivered to Singapore Airlines on July 11, 1989, with registration 9V-SMC. It was leased to China Airlines as 3B-SMC in the mid-1990s to cover for the loss of another Boeing 747-400 which overshot the runway at Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport in 1993. Later on, it was leased to Iberia Airlines with registration TF-AMA. The aircraft was owned by SIA Engineering Co. Ltd. prior to being sold to Oasis. It was delivered to Oasis on September 19, 2006.

The second aircraft, B-LFB (cn 24065/ln 761), was delivered to Singapore Airlines on December 13, 1989, with registration 9V-SME. It was leased to Air Atlanta Icelandic and Iberia Airlines with registration TF-AMB from 2004 to 2006. It was delivered to Oasis on November 18, 2006. With the two aircraft, Oasis began to offer daily non-stop flights between Hong Kong and London on November 24, 2006.

There are also unconfirmed rumours of a possible purchase of some Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The chairman, Rev. Raymond Lee, announced that Oasis is aiming to have a fleet of 25 aircraft in the next 5 years, at the launch ceremony of the airline.

Artist Impression of Oasis Hong Kong Airlines Boeing 747-400
Enlarge
Artist Impression of Oasis Hong Kong Airlines Boeing 747-400
Registration CN Aircraft Previous ID Notes
B-LFA 24063/LN736
 Boeing 747-400 9V-SMC, 3B-SMC, TF-AMA. Original Livery
B-LFB 24065/LN761
 Boeing 747-400 9V-SME, TF-AMB. Original Livery
B-LF_ N/A Boeing 747-400 N/A Unknown

[edit] Destinations

The airline currently only operates one route, from Hong Kong International Airport to London Gatwick. Other routes are planned. Planned destinations are all leading budget carrier hubs. London Gatwick, Milan Malpensa, and Berlin Schönefeld , for instance, are hubs for UK's budget carrier Easyjet, which serves over 30 European destinations. Cologne Bonn Airport is the main hub of German low cost airline, Germanwings. In addition, Oakland International Airport is a hub for Southwest Airlines and a focus city for JetBlue Airways.

[edit] Domestic

[edit] International

[edit] Current Destination

[edit] Planned Destinations

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

Airlines of Hong Kong
Air Hong Kong | Cathay Pacific | Dragonair | Hong Kong Airlines | Hong Kong Express | Oasis Hong Kong Airlines


Defunct: Hong Kong Airways


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