Oxford Airport has been renamed London Oxford Airport.

Oxford Airport in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, has been renamed London Oxford Airport, even though it is 60 miles from the capital’s centre.

A headline on the company’s website heavily pushes the airport’s proximity to London: “Welcome to London Oxford Airport… the only commercial airport between London Heathrow (LHR) and Birmingham (BHX). Located in the heart of one of Europe’s fastest growing regions, Oxford lies just 40 miles to the north-west of the Greater London area.”

The renaming has been designed to attract more business flights to the airport. The airport’s Marketing Manager, James Dillon Godfray, told the Daily Telegraph that he anticipated the move would bring in up to 50% more private business flights every day.

“We’re not meaning to insult Oxford or play down its history,” he added. “Oxford is probably the second best recognised city in the UK throughout the entire world, but people just don’t realise how close it is to London.

“This (renaming) will help promote recognition of us globally to the overseas business aviation sector, many of whom were not aware of the availability of an airport to the north-west of London.”

The airport is the ninth in the UK to bear the London name, alongside: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, City, Southend, Ashford, and Biggin Hill.

Oxford has overtaken London Ashford Airport as the furthest away from the capital, with the Kent airport only measuring 56 miles from the city centre compared to Oxford’s 60 miles.

For further information about the airport and its services, visit: http://www.oxfordairport.co.uk/index.htm