London Oxford Airport has recently signed a supply agreement with Gulf Aviation for both Jet A1 and Avgas fuels. The new agreement is being well received by operators, especially among the increasing number of transatlantic private jets that are flying into the airport. Affordable fuel, attractive opening hours (06:30 to 10:30 pm seven days a week), and Oxford airport’s close proximity to London’s West End are all contributing to wider recognition and an increase in monthly business aviation movements.  

Affording Oxford Airport with more competitive pricing compared with some peer airports in the UK, the change to a new supplier follows several decades with their former fuel provider. Gulf’s presence in the UK aviation market has developed relatively recently and the business now has contracts in place with White Waltham and Kemble airfields. London Oxford is its most recent addition.

The contract also provides Oxford with a replacement fleet of the latest bowsers, including one 45,000 litre unit and two 36,000 litre Jet A1 bowsers, whilst for Avgas, the airport now has a 7,000 litre and another 5,000 litre unit.

As an additional local association with Oxford, Gulf continues its sponsorship of the Oxfordshire-based Aston Martin Racing team, managed by Prodrive, whose LMP1 race car won the 2009 Le Mans series, following victory in the famous Le Mans 24 hour race in 2008. This follows several decades of motorsport sponsorship by Gulf, which backed the famous Ford GT40s of the 1960s and the significant exposure on Steve McQueen’s Gulf Porsche 917 in the movie Le Mans, which profiled the 1970 Le Mans race. The LMP1 was on show at Oxford Airport last month coinciding with the VLJ Europe 09 conference which was hosted there.

London Oxford Airport Managing Director, Steve Jones, commented: “Joining forces with Gulf Aviation as a key supplier to the airport is a significant change for us and one we are hugely enthusiastic about. We have a clean sheet supply deal with a new player on the UK scene, but one with a long established heritage in the oil industry. We aim to remain competitive in all areas of our business and this is just one part we resolved to enhance this year.”

Gulf Aviation General Manager Paul Muncey said: ‘“We are delighted that London Oxford Airport has chosen Gulf Aviation as its fuel supply partner. Gulf is relatively new to the aviation industry, but this is a major step forward for us. London Oxford Airport has big plans for the future and we will do everything we can to support it over the coming years.”

Having increased opening hours, improved its fire and rescue capability, built a new dedicated business aviation terminal and increased hangarage in the last year, Oxford Airport is in a very good position to remain an attractive alternative for London-originated or destined business aviation traffic. Additionally, for the first time in its history, the airport is beginning to attract some niche scheduled services starting with a Geneva ski-run this winter.

London Oxford Airport’s Head of Marketing and Development James Dillon-Godfray will be at NBAA next week in Orlando (20-22 October, 2009) to further the message to US operators and FBOs.