Oxford Bus Company has confirmed patronage on its Airline service to Heathrow and Gatwick Airports has grown to 75% of pre-pandemic levels.
Since all UK entry restrictions ended the luxury airline coach service has experienced a steady increase in demand. It provides connectivity to Heathrow and Gatwick Airports from Oxford and High Wycombe.
Current patronage is at its highest level since the Covid-19 pandemic started. Oxford Bus Company expects demand to increase further as more people return to international and domestic travel and the summer holiday season begins.
Should demand recovery continue it expects to increase the frequency of its services to Gatwick Airport before the summer school summer holidays.
Oxford Bus Company has also improved its digital booking technology in response to customer feedback and now passengers can book tickets at least 11 months in advance, in line with air travel booking arrangements.
Phil Southall, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director and OxLEP Board Member, said: “It is good to see demand for international travel steadily increase as more people return to travelling abroad. After a challenging couple of years, the lifting of travel restrictions has given the travel industry a much-needed boost.
"Since travel restrictions were removed, we have seen our patronage increase by around 50% and it continues to grow. Should this trend continue we hope to be able to increase the frequency of our service to Gatwick Airport soon.
"We have invested in our digital booking technology to help passengers plan their journeys and they can now book tickets at least 11 months in advance. Furthermore, if their flights or airports change, our driver team is empowered to offer suitable alternative options on board the coach.”
Services to Heathrow Airport from Oxford operate every 30 minutes. Currently services to Gatwick Airport operate as an extension of the Heathrow Airport service and run every two hours.
The Airline coaches include at seat trays to accommodate laptops and tablets, plus USB charging points and power-sockets. There are also monitors on-board, with sat-nav displays to enable passengers to check progress on their journey, just as they would when on an aeroplane.
The coaches also boast free Wi-Fi, wheel-chair access and much improved luggage capacity for passengers’ suitcases and bags.
