London Oxford Airport names Tony Farmer as Head of Sales and Route Development.

Wednesday 28th March 2012

London Oxford Airport has appointed Tony Farmer to a new role as Head of Sales and Route Development.

Tony brings 30 years' experience in commercial aviation to the airport's management team, having worked in sales and marketing with a variety of airlines, including Saudi Airlines in London, for whom he served for 10 years steering the airline's marketing strategy in the UK. He also held a similar role with South African Airways and was UK Manager for Hellenic Imperial Airways, based out of Birmingham Airport. Most recently, Tony was a key appointee at two year old VIP Avro RJ business jet operator Cello Aviation, where he served as sales and marketing manager.

"Tony has excellent credentials and the relevant expertise to help us further develop the airport's growth, especially as we look to develop more short-haul, scheduled and regular charter business," commented Managing Director Chris Orphanou. Working together with Business Development Director James Dillon Godfray, Tony will focus attention on steering the new Jersey and Isle of Man services, due to commence early May with Manx2.com. He will identify and pursue new route opportunities and explore the potential for VIP charter flights, as well as 'just in time' freight charters.

"I am joining the airport at a very exciting time with the introduction of state-of-the-art new radar going live at the end of May, the new scheduled services which are selling very well, and of course the London Olympics this summer. With Oxford being situated outside the 2012 London 'Restricted Zone, there will be no flight plan constraints," said Tony Farmer.

Sales on the Jersey/IoM route, which starts on 8th May, have already exceeded previous route launches by more than 35%, with over 1,000 seats sold to date. In addition, Manx2 is offering Isle of Man passengers who hold bookings with Aer Arann to London City Airport to rebook with them to London Oxford - for £1 less than the cost of their original ticket - following the latter's decision to cease flying the route from April 11th.

About London Oxford Airport:

London Oxford Airport continued to see its business aviation traffic grow throughout 2011. The airport now supports around 6,000 business aircraft movements a year (15% of Oxford's overall aviation activity). As 2011 closed, growth was up 12.2% compared with the previous year, according to independent analysis by EuroControl. This increase ranks Oxford fifth in the UK for business aviation activity at civil airports, ahead of London Stansted Airport.

London Oxford Airport is wholly owned by the Reuben Brothers. Their investment activities include private equity, real estate ownership and development, which are predominantly based in the United Kingdom and Europe. Businesses include shopping centres, mixed use commercial real estate, data centres, race courses, public houses, hotels and other development projects. At the end of February the Reubens purchased the London Heliport at London Battersea, the UK's only CAA licensed heliport. The Heliport is a 20-minute helicopter ride from London Oxford Airport.

www.oxfordairport.co.uk