London Oxford Airport has signed a partnership arrangement with Skyways of Sweden agreeing that the expanding UK airport will be connected to the latter’s comprehensive IT network for passenger handling infrastructure and support services. Effective 16 January and in readiness for through-connecting flights to Rome (via Geneva) and the start of week-daily scheduled services to Edinburgh on 1 March, the airport will be linked with Skyways’ high-tech airline handling services and operations, known as DCS (Departure Control Systems). Oxfordjet customer services representatives completed their training on the system last week.
 
London Oxford Airport  duly becomes a ‘virtual destination’ on the Skyways network, with Stockholm-based Skyways operating Oxford’s DCS in the same way that any of its Swedish airports handling scheduled and charter flights would.

“We will be utilising the Skyways DCS system to check-in and board passengers departing on all of our scheduled and charter flights,” said London Oxford Airport’s Head of Customer Services, David Surley.

Skyways’ DCS system is based on the SITA reservations and DCS IT platform.  Key features include automated passenger verification, check-in, seat assignment, special requests, specific passenger handling requirements and ticket reconciliation.

“Baggage processing is a key element,” said David Surley. “The Skyways DCS system enables check-in staff to tag every piece of luggage with a bar-coded label that complies with the most advanced bag scanning and directional handling facilities at major hub airports.”

The new arrangement also means that passengers can now fly from Oxford to Rome every Saturday, having checked in their bags at London Oxford Airport. They can then enjoy a hassle-free transit experience at Geneva, with checked baggage automatically being processed behind the scenes to make the onward connection to Rome’s principal Fiumicino International Airport.

The introduction of this DCS makes for an optimal and efficient level of customer service for airlines using London Oxford Airport. Passengers and their bags can be checked in professionally and speedily and customers can request the seat of their choice. The operating airline and destination airport receive all mandatory reporting data at the touch of a button, to ensure ticket numbers are ‘banked’ and reconciled and vital service information is passed to the destination point while operational messages are sent to the relevant agents and airline staff, instantaneously.

“We see this as just the first part of a long term partnership with Skyways,” said David Surley. “We gain a premier regional airline handling platform at London Oxford Airport and are delighted to be forging a strong tie with one of Scandinavia’s foremost airline brands.”

Skyways is a full-service domestic and international airline based in Sweden, serving 19 destinations with its fleet of Fokker 50 turboprop aircraft. The airline is based at Stockholm’s Arlanda International Airport and specialises in high-frequency business-oriented services to regional areas of Sweden, as well as Denmark and Lithuania.

“We are pleased that we are able to provide London Oxford Airport with Skyways DCS system for a cost and quality efficient handling services which will not only benefit the airport but also the passengers. We are looking forward to a long and successful cooperation” said Peter Browall, CEO at Skyways.

Skyways is continuing its dialogue with the London Oxford Airport to establish partnership opportunities in line with the airport’s recent rapid development. The airport, which is starting to carve its niche by catering for regional airline operations, will this year offer passengers fast and convenient services to Jersey, Edinburgh, Geneva and Rome.