Omaha Eppley Airfield

[NovakOmaha]

I am still amazed that Eppley hasn't added much new service.

Where is Southwest to LAX, BWI, MCO, etc.?

Where is United to IAD (Dulles), LAX, SFO?

Where is AA to MIA?

Once and for all the Airport Authority needs to get agressive and assertive with regard to expanded service.  The airport could be a huge economic engine.  I know it is but it could be so much more.  And with regard to a new terminal I think that you could easily add gates to the current concourses, 5 each, and have plenty of gates.

We're not a hub. Simple as that. It's cheaper (although not convenient for passengers) to fly everyone to a hub for connecting flights. We're just too close to Chicago and Denver to get many of our own direct flights. I hope airlines move away from the hub concept eventually. Until then, we'll be treated like overnight FedEx packages, which all go through Memphis.

I said nothing about hubs.  Here are my reasons for my original post:

Southwest flies to Orlando from Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Grand Rapids, among many others, none of them hubs and neither is Orlando.  Southwest doesn't have hubs per se.  As for BWI, pretty much the same thing.

United flies to Dulles, LAX and SFO from lots of cities Omaha's size or smaller.  Again, OKC.

American flies to Miami from Tulsa.

Oklahoma City and Tulsa fly less people per year than Omaha.  

It doesn't look like United, American or Delta are planning to move away from the hub and spoke concept any time soon.  Southwest focuses on a number of cities, such as Chicago, Denver, BWI, etc., but they also fly quite a bit of point to point if the route is profitable.

The point of my original post is that Eppley needs to get more agressive in promoting its strengths and the profit potential of certain routes.  I have to believe that there is demand for the LAX, MCO and BWI routes at least.

[naomiswanson]

That is a site plan which Smithey shared at a presentation at UNO a number of years ago.

If that's the case, then why are they not starting it right then? I mean, are they still the planning method on what are the things that should be done?

[Brad]

couldn't believe how buSy Eppley was last night.  We landed just before midnight, there was a plane landing in front of us on Approach, another one after us and then there was a 4th out there taxiing when we were pulling up tot he gate.  When we walked downstairs there were a lot of people at the Baggage area and a decent amount at the rental car counters.  I didn't even know the rental car counters were open that late.

[jessep28]

I've flown in after 11PM to Eppley plenty of times and it's usually dead.

[Brad]

I've flown in after 11PM to Eppley plenty of times and it's usually dead.

Until last night, that has always been my experience.  It usually feels like we are the only plane, last night was completely different.  I should have looked harder at the arrival boards, I wonder if there were a lot of weather delays yesterday.

[RNcyanide]

I've flown in after 11PM to Eppley plenty of times and it's usually dead.

Until last night, that has always been my experience.  It usually feels like we are the only plane, last night was completely different.  I should have looked harder at the arrival boards, I wonder if there were a lot of weather delays yesterday.

A friend of mine was flying in from Dallas and his flight was delayed until about 11:00 or so.

[skinzfan23]

I used to work for Enterprise and a lot of the other rental car companies would leave around 11pm or midnight, but we would stay until the last plane landed if we had a reservation.  Sometimes that meant being there until 2 am.

[mrsticka]

In the 90's, I flew a lot between Omaha and Spokane.  I'd have layovers in either Minneapolis or Denver and I was amazed at how big their airports were.  Just out of nostalgic curiosity, anybody remember Minneapolis/St. Paul's old color codes for their concourses?

Green Concourse–Now Concourses C and D
Blue Concourse–Now Concourse E
Red Concourse–Now Concourse F
Gold Concourse–Now Concourse G

This was before Concourses A and B were built. Those color codes were used until September 2000.

[Brad]

Eppley Airfield To Outline New 20-Year Plan

http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/Eppl ... 99741.html

The Airport Authority at Eppley Airfield releases its plan for airport improvement Tuesday morning.

At 9 a.m., officials will detail how they'll improve services to keep up with more traffic at the airport over the next 20 years. The last plan centered on improving the tarmac itself, but this year's will focus on the airport's terminals and parking garages.

[NovakOmaha]

Eppley Airfield To Outline New 20-Year Plan

http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/Eppl ... 99741.html

The Airport Authority at Eppley Airfield releases its plan for airport improvement Tuesday morning.

At 9 a.m., officials will detail how they'll improve services to keep up with more traffic at the airport over the next 20 years. The last plan centered on improving the tarmac itself, but this year's will focus on the airport's terminals and parking garages.

So what's the word?

[Coyote]

[Garrett]

Now that... is an airport.

[NovakOmaha]

Where did you get that?

Seems like a huge expansion for 8 additional gates.  The planes seem awfully big.  Overall it reminds me of Oklahoma City and Austin Texas airports.

[Coyote]

Eppley’s 20 Year Plan to be “Built as Needed”

The main focus will be on passenger travel, from the garage to the gate. One of the biggest differences passengers would notice is efficiencies in security and checking in. For example, on the 2nd floor there will be more kiosks made available, and one main TSA check point, potentially with 10 lanes.

[RNcyanide]

Yay we will finally get a real airport!

[Coyote]

[Brad]

Yay we will finally get a real airport!

Seriously?  Eppley is a great airport.  It's just going to get better.

[Coyote]

[RNcyanide]

It's strange to see how the latter was taken during the floods.

[iamjacobm]

One large terminal is for sure the way to go.

[iamjacobm]

Some of those passenger benchmarks are a long ways off.

[NovakOmaha]

edit

[S33]

Oh I don't think the airport is in any need of expansion. Every time I'm there, at best, it's seems half full. I think it's perfect for Omaha.

[MadMartin8]

This will be interesting going forward, but it's going to be a long, long time.


Then again, this project will probably be completed before anything goes on the Wall Street Tower lot. Haha.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

From an aesthetic perspective, it could use some work.

[Omababe]

Oh I don't think the airport is in any need of expansion. Every time I'm there, at best, it's seems half full. I think it's perfect for Omaha.

I agree!

Instead of grandiose gate expansion (IIRC there are a number of unused gates as is) how about some more direct flights to the popular destinations on the Left Coast? Seems like I have to transfer in Denver (or Phoenix) to get almost anywhere!

[NovakOmaha]

After looking and reading it doesn't appear that they are planning upper and lower roads.  Also, they are planning a ton of parking garage additions.  The theory seems good.  A single ticket counter area, a single bag claim area, a single security checkpoint.  Good ideas.

I don't know how many of you remember when the current configuration was built but it was a mess for a long time.  I don't remember the exact year but it was in the 80s.  When it was complete it was a huge deal.

[NovakOmaha]

Oh I don't think the airport is in any need of expansion. Every time I'm there, at best, it's seems half full. I think it's perfect for Omaha.

I agree!

Instead of grandiose gate expansion (IIRC there are a number of unused gates as is) how about some more direct flights to the popular destinations on the Left Coast? Seems like I have to transfer in Denver (or Phoenix) to get almost anywhere!

I can never figure out why OMA can't hold onto LAX service.  San Francisco & San Diego would be nice as well.  Southwest to BWI and MCO and TPA seem like no brainers as well.

[GetUrban]

I'm always surprised how packed full the parking garages are every time I'm there.  A good chunk of Omaha's population must be out of town at any given time, plus a lot of people drive to the airport from surrounding communities. Or....the garages just don't hold as many cars as you'd think.

I guess it's also a reflection of how few people use mass transit to get to the airport.

[Coyote]

Plans for some Eppley Airfield projects could stay on shelf awhile

The third phase of the master plan is not expected to be needed until about 2030, and even that is an early estimate, said David Roth, Eppley's director of strategic planning and engineering.

While the plan is meant to project the next 20 years, it's likely to stretch beyond that because it is based on passenger demand.

[joleo]

Oh I don't think the airport is in any need of expansion. Every time I'm there, at best, it's seems half full. I think it's perfect for Omaha.

I agree!

Instead of grandiose gate expansion (IIRC there are a number of unused gates as is) how about some more direct flights to the popular destinations on the Left Coast? Seems like I have to transfer in Denver (or Phoenix) to get almost anywhere!

I can never figure out why OMA can't hold onto LAX service.  San Francisco & San Diego would be nice as well.  Southwest to BWI and MCO and TPA seem like no brainers as well.

My take on possible service expansions:

LAX: DL/ UA and maybe both.  One or both will stick this time with both have a hub at LAX to transfer passengers.  I feel good that this will come within the next 2 years.
SFO:  Yields to SFO are high and I think once United starts getting the E-175 RJ's, you'll see this route added.  2-4 years out.
SAN:  Probably won't happen, nobody hubs at SAN.
BWI:  I thought this would happen years ago on Southwest.  I'm really not so sure now....give it 25% or less in next 5 years.
DAL:  I think this will happen when the Wright Amendment goes away end of 2014.  2 times daily on Southwest would really open up Texas on Southwest.
MSP:  If DAL happens on Southwest, I could see Southwest also adding MSP.  This would really lower fares to MSP and would do the most out of any route to increase Eppley's total passenger numbers.  It would pull people out of cars and onto planes.  

Otherwise, I don't see much else as viable unless one of two things happen.  Allegiant comes to town and offers less than daily service to leisure Florida destinations.  ...or Eppley builds a customs facility and you would 100% see service to Cancun and maybe other Mexico destinations seasonally.  I really think this should be the next Eppley improvement, adding a customs facility.  I don't understand the holdup on this!

[mrsticka]

Eppley already serves Minneapolis.

[joleo]

Eppley already serves Minneapolis.

Correct, but only on Delta.  I was talking about service expansions, Southwest starting to fly to Minneapolis would be an expansion.  Delta fares are terrible on this route so most end up driving.  My largest client, a fortune 500 company travels back and forth from Omaha to Minneapolis very often and because of the fares, they drive 90% of the time.  A relative also on business needed to fly one-way to MSP and also ended up renting a car a driving because of Delta charging $500 bucks for a one-way flight, even with long advanced purchase.  

If southwest adds MSP, Eppley passenger numbers will rise.  I would guess Southwest Minneapolis service would add upwards of 150,000-200,000 passengers per year to Eppley.

[nativeomahan]

It is wise for the Eppley administrators to plan for the future.  But I don't see any significant reconfiguration of the airport occurring in the next ten years.  In other words, don't get your hopes up on any of this, folks.

I would just be happy as a clam if they would improve their food options inside the terminal.  How about a signature Omaha restaurant opening a branch?  Many other cities have done this.  Or high quality "grab and go" offerings.  MSP does a superlative job in this regard.
Oh, and how about keeping the restaurants and news stands open past 8 pm!  I fly in at 8 pm and everything is boarded up like you would expect in a two bit town.  People who fly are often starving when they land.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

Someone needs to get the Chili's Too people on the horn and let them know they're missing out on a stellar opportunity.

[S33]

It is wise for the Eppley administrators to plan for the future.  But I don't see any significant reconfiguration of the airport occurring in the next ten years.  In other words, don't get your hopes up on any of this, folks.

I would just be happy as a clam if they would improve their food options inside the terminal.  How about a signature Omaha restaurant opening a branch?  Many other cities have done this.  Or high quality "grab and go" offerings.  MSP does a superlative job in this regard.
Oh, and how about keeping the restaurants and news stands open past 8 pm!  I fly in at 8 pm and everything is boarded up like you would expect in a two bit town.  People who fly are often starving when they land.

need moar passengers, nao! (it's just Eppley)

[jessep28]

Let's just close Eppley and build a high speed rail line to Minneapolis - St. Paul International airport since Eppley clearly fails compared to them.

[S33]

I just don't everyone's dissatisfaction with Eppley. It works, priced reasonably for the region, and you are in and out, no lines, security bullshit, nothing. It's quick, and serves it's purpose.

It's frickin' Omaha, for crying out loud. Why do we need some big, elaborate signature airport? we don't; we're not Vegas.

[mrsticka]

True, we're not.  But Omaha is a big city rapidly growing.  And the proposed expansion of the airport doesn't make it nearly as big as Las Vegas, Minneapolis, LA, O'Hare or Denver.

[Omaha_Gabe]

Eppley already serves Minneapolis.

Correct, but only on Delta.  I was talking about service expansions, Southwest starting to fly to Minneapolis would be an expansion.  Delta fares are terrible on this route so most end up driving.  My largest client, a fortune 500 company travels back and forth from Omaha to Minneapolis very often and because of the fares, they drive 90% of the time.  A relative also on business needed to fly one-way to MSP and also ended up renting a car a driving because of Delta charging $500 bucks for a one-way flight, even with long advanced purchase.  

If southwest adds MSP, Eppley passenger numbers will rise.  I would guess Southwest Minneapolis service would add upwards of 150,000-200,000 passengers per year to Eppley.

I agree - I used to work for Carlson Hotels in Omaha. Headquarters are in MSP.   every month about 100-200 need to travel between, yet they mainly drive as the flights are so ridiculous!