Omaha Eppley Airfield - DISCUSSION

Mr.Nuke · Post by **Mr.Nuke** » Tue Jan 08, 2019 6:56 pm

Coyote wrote: Thu Jan 03, 2019 1:42 am
Rafael, who lives in Virginia just outside of Washington, D.C., agreed, saying he is all in on a return trip.

"I'm totally happy to come back to Omaha or anywhere Terence Crawford may fight there anytime," he said. "I just wish I could get a non-stop flight. I have to stop in Chicago. But that's not Omaha's fault."

Dan apparently flies United out of Dulles...

Mr.Nuke · Post by **Mr.Nuke** » Tue Jan 08, 2019 7:10 pm

Sorry in advance for the slow response.

joleo wrote: Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:34 pm It would be nice to keep Air Canada and yes, I agree bragging rights. When Air Canada codeshares with United on literally 98% of their USA-Canada flights, why do they not do the Omaha flights?

I’m not going to go through every Air Canada/United flight looking for codeshares. However, there were 5 other flights announced the same day as Omaha. One was seasonal and isn’t currently flying, one got dropped, but neither of the other 3 have the codeshare either. There may be a time element involved too.

joleo wrote: Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:34 pm If United didn't see value in it, they wouldn't do it.

I mean they literally aren’t right now… If we’re talking some overall agreement network wide? Sure, I agree. United and Air Canada wouldn’t be participating if either side didn’t see value. However, that doesn’t mean that on a given route (say Omaha-Toronto) the agreement makes sense for both parties. It simply means system wide it evens out.

joleo wrote: Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:34 pm Remember it does value United as well. A passenger that would have taken Delta or American from Eppley might fly a United-Air Canada combo instead.

Sure, but again like my post you’re responding to at what cost to United? If they’re losing any passengers to the codeshare that is more than likely outweighing any marginal benefit from getting someone on a split ticket. Beyond that, you can already split ticket United/Air Canada on this route through many of the online booking companies. Heck you can book the Air Canada flight on United.com via google flights.

So no I have a hard time believing United is losing any passengers by not having a codeshare as if someone is comparing United to Delta or American on this route 1) They are probably using an online booking agency/aggregator where the split ticket flight may show up 2) United already competes aggressively frequency wise on this route through Chicago versus American or Delta through DTW and MSP.

joleo wrote: Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:34 pm Or an Air Canada passenger from Toronto who time only works one-way could take United one direction and Air Canada the other vs potentially sending the entire passenger both ways to Delta or American.

No question it would benefit Air Canada due to their one-off flight per day at inopportune times. Again though, you can already book it this way without the codeshare…

ScrattyB · Post by **ScrattyB** » Fri Jan 11, 2019 4:59 pm

There is no bus service to/from the airport between 8:30am and 4pm during the weekdays. No service at all on the weekends.

I find that shocking.

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:05 pm

I flew in on 1/3 on the last SW flight so about 10:40. The plane was full The pickup area outside was packed and it took my lyft driver about 10 min to make it through traffic. So hopefully they design the pickup and drop off area differently in the future

daveoma · Post by **daveoma** » Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:44 pm

ScrattyB wrote: Fri Jan 11, 2019 4:59 pm There is no bus service to/from the airport between 8:30am and 4pm during the weekdays. No service at all on the weekends.

I find that shocking.

I agree, there should be a regularly scheduled bus that goes to and from downtown. Or perhaps extend the #2 bus asking Dodge street to the airport.

ProgKingHughesker · Post by **ProgKingHughesker** » Sat Jan 12, 2019 12:30 am

Once the shuttles are no longer needed for the rental car anymore just have them do a loop from the airport to 12th and Dodge and back

Bob from Omaha · Post by **Bob from Omaha** » Mon Jan 14, 2019 2:29 pm

I know it's only the 14th and the Eppley lurkers are probably still sleeping but I'm curious if and by how much Eppley crossed the 5 million line last year. OKC published their results & they had a banner year, up over 10% and chasing OMA pretty hard.

As to congestion in front of the terminal it does make a pretty strong case for upper and lower roads. Just my opinion. Hey, if OKC can have them OMA should be able to as well.

ita · Post by **ita** » Mon Jan 14, 2019 3:52 pm

Bob from Omaha wrote: Mon Jan 14, 2019 2:29 pm I know it's only the 14th and the Eppley lurkers are probably still sleeping but I'm curious if and by how much Eppley crossed the 5 million line last year. OKC published their results & they had a banner year, up over 10% and chasing OMA pretty hard.

As to congestion in front of the terminal it does make a pretty strong case for upper and lower roads. Just my opinion. Hey, if OKC can have them OMA should be able to as well.

Also interested in the 2018 numbers. I do want to cast mine and my coworkers vote for including upper and lower roads to separate drop offs and pick ups into the master plan. When busy, it is a madhouse trying to pick up/drop off people.

ScrattyB · Post by **ScrattyB** » Mon Jan 14, 2019 4:16 pm

I fly quite often and nearly every new airport I fly into has upper and lower decks. I would assume Omaha would follow this pattern. If they didn't, I don't even know how they would plan to handle the congestion. It's already bad.

Ryan Air · Post by **Ryan Air** » Tue Jan 15, 2019 8:44 pm

OMA hits the 5 million mark
5.046 million in 2018

https://www.flyoma.com/wp-content/uploa ... istics.pdf

TitosBuritoBarn · Post by **TitosBuritoBarn** » Tue Jan 15, 2019 8:54 pm

Air Canada is back up for December!

ita · Post by **ita** » Tue Jan 15, 2019 9:10 pm

Ryan Air wrote: Tue Jan 15, 2019 8:44 pm OMA hits the 5 million mark
5.046 million in 2018

https://www.flyoma.com/wp-content/uploa ... istics.pdf

Nice, thanks for the update. So PAL 2 is being triggered this year, if we continue to have similar gains as we did in 2018?

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Tue Jan 15, 2019 9:40 pm

5 million club OMA!

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Tue Jan 15, 2019 11:17 pm

Ryan Air wrote: Tue Jan 15, 2019 8:44 pm OMA hits the 5 million mark
5.046 million in 2018

https://www.flyoma.com/wp-content/uploa ... istics.pdf

Another milestone for OMA and the Big O

...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Bob from Omaha · Post by **Bob from Omaha** » Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:05 am

My last guess was 5,050,000 but I'll take it.

Now. Eppley lurkers. Listen close. Come closer. Get a piece of paper and a pen/pencil/crayon. Ready?
Call the OWH(whoever is left), the local TV stations (whoever is left), the Lincoln paper as well as those outstate, anyone else you can think of. Give them all the info on the fact that 2018 broke the all time record for passengers at Eppley. If you need some tips check out the Des Moines Register's story about the Des Moines airport. BIG headlines. Picture of the head of the airport. Lots of info about the planned terminal. (The Des Moines airport has a $200 million problem. They can't build theirs just yet) Give more details about Eppley's planned expansion.

This is a big deal. Use it to your advantage.

Oh, and owh lurkers, if you're still out there. Feel free to do a story on your own. This kind of thing used to be automatic in the owh years ago. Of course the owner of the paper doesn't feel there is anything the reporting staff can do to add value to the business. Column inches of ads, baby! Right?

P.S. The people have spoken. Upper road for departures, lower for arrivals. Also, Let's get going on non stops to Boston, Cancun, Memphis, New Orleans, Puerto Vallarta, BWI, Dulles, JFK, and Grand Island. Why not? Oh, yeah. High Ceilings, lots of light, moving sidewalks to the far gates, at least 50 women's bathroom stalls if not 100, a top level airfield viewing area, an attached hotel, real food both pre and post security, and on and on and on.

Front door to the city, right?

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Jan 16, 2019 2:13 am

5,043,194

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Wed Jan 16, 2019 2:22 am

Woo! That’s awesome!

Ryan Air · Post by **Ryan Air** » Wed Jan 16, 2019 3:13 am

Bob from Omaha wrote: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:05 am My last guess was 5,050,000 but I'll take it.

Now. Eppley lurkers. Listen close. Come closer. Get a piece of paper and a pen/pencil/crayon. Ready?
Call the OWH(whoever is left), the local TV stations (whoever is left), the Lincoln paper as well as those outstate, anyone else you can think of. Give them all the info on the fact that 2018 broke the all time record for passengers at Eppley. If you need some tips check out the Des Moines Register's story about the Des Moines airport. BIG headlines. Picture of the head of the airport. Lots of info about the planned terminal. (The Des Moines airport has a $200 million problem. They can't build theirs just yet) Give more details about Eppley's planned expansion.

This is a big deal. Use it to your advantage.

Oh, and owh lurkers, if you're still out there. Feel free to do a story on your own. This kind of thing used to be automatic in the owh years ago. Of course the owner of the paper doesn't feel there is anything the reporting staff can do to add value to the business. Column inches of ads, baby! Right?

P.S. The people have spoken. Upper road for departures, lower for arrivals. Also, Let's get going on non stops to Boston, Cancun, Memphis, New Orleans, Puerto Vallarta, BWI, Dulles, JFK, and Grand Island. Why not? Oh, yeah. High Ceilings, lots of light, moving sidewalks to the far gates, at least 50 women's bathroom stalls if not 100, a top level airfield viewing area, an attached hotel, real food both pre and post security, and on and on and on.

Front door to the city, right?

Hire the people that did Indy’s airport. High ceilings, lots of light. The OWH sucks and nobody reads it. Apparently people only watch 7 anymore, so call them. And News 10-11 in Lincoln.

TitosBuritoBarn · Post by **TitosBuritoBarn** » Wed Jan 16, 2019 4:42 am

Bob from Omaha wrote: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:05 am Now. Eppley lurkers. Listen close. Come closer. Get a piece of paper and a pen/pencil/crayon. Ready?

Whenever you shoutout to the "Eppley lurkers," it makes me think of this:

[youtube][/youtube]

ita · Post by **ita** » Wed Jan 16, 2019 3:23 pm

Bob from Omaha wrote: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:05 am My last guess was 5,050,000 but I'll take it.

Now. Eppley lurkers. Listen close. Come closer. Get a piece of paper and a pen/pencil/crayon. Ready?
Call the OWH(whoever is left), the local TV stations (whoever is left), the Lincoln paper as well as those outstate, anyone else you can think of. Give them all the info on the fact that 2018 broke the all time record for passengers at Eppley. If you need some tips check out the Des Moines Register's story about the Des Moines airport. BIG headlines. Picture of the head of the airport. Lots of info about the planned terminal. (The Des Moines airport has a $200 million problem. They can't build theirs just yet) Give more details about Eppley's planned expansion.

This is a big deal. Use it to your advantage.

Oh, and owh lurkers, if you're still out there. Feel free to do a story on your own. This kind of thing used to be automatic in the owh years ago. Of course the owner of the paper doesn't feel there is anything the reporting staff can do to add value to the business. Column inches of ads, baby! Right?

P.S. The people have spoken. Upper road for departures, lower for arrivals. Also, Let's get going on non stops to Boston, Cancun, Memphis, New Orleans, Puerto Vallarta, BWI, Dulles, JFK, and Grand Island. Why not? Oh, yeah. High Ceilings, lots of light, moving sidewalks to the far gates, at least 50 women's bathroom stalls if not 100, a top level airfield viewing area, an attached hotel, real food both pre and post security, and on and on and on.

Front door to the city, right?

The Journal Star already published an article on Lincoln airport's numbers for 2018, albeit the news was not as positive with a overall 5% decrease.

https://journalstar.com/business/local/ ... f6210.html

OWH should have an article on this and Epply should be pushing to publish the glad tidings and good news. Anyway, I hope we get some update about the north concourse expansion and main terminal expansion plans soon.

Bob from Omaha · Post by **Bob from Omaha** » Thu Jan 17, 2019 3:42 am

I'm such an Eppley geek. I've been thinking about the terminal and how to create more space in front of the terminal as well as upper and lower roads.
Tear down the garage in front of the terminal and rebuild it farther west....right over Abbot Drive. It's been done in other cities...not always near the airport but over interstates and downtown areas. I'm sure it's prohibitively expensive. On the other hand, it killed a few minutes while I wait for a plane in, um, wherever I am.

buildomaha · Post by **buildomaha** » Thu Jan 17, 2019 4:52 am

Bob from Omaha wrote: Thu Jan 17, 2019 3:42 am I'm such an Eppley geek. I've been thinking about the terminal and how to create more space in front of the terminal as well as upper and lower roads.
Tear down the garage in front of the terminal and rebuild it farther west....right over Abbot Drive. It's been done in other cities...not always near the airport but over interstates and downtown areas. I'm sure it's prohibitively expensive. On the other hand, it killed a few minutes while I wait for a plane in, um, wherever I am.

This is an amazing idea.

Bomaha · Post by **Bomaha** » Thu Jan 17, 2019 5:13 pm

I think moving the actual terminal left turn, and right turn off(?) to Pratt Cir or even further to Carter Lake Drive East. It gives you plenty of space to widen out to about 4 lanes....two split between upper and lower, the two lower would widen to an additional lane to go to the garage. The two lanes of each would obviously widen to three or four through the terminal area. It would be double decked road until somewhere at the North Long term parking lot and would rejoin together and then dump out at that intersection.

It's certainly possible and should be done, The curb demand/capacity is already ridiculous and will only continue to get much worse. A transit connection is only going to delay the inevitable. I hope it is actually reconsidered and placed into PAL 2.

This would also have a rearranging of the ABM long term, airport long term, etc down there, too.

daveoma · Post by **daveoma** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 2:49 am

buildomaha wrote: Thu Jan 17, 2019 4:52 am
Bob from Omaha wrote: Thu Jan 17, 2019 3:42 am I'm such an Eppley geek. I've been thinking about the terminal and how to create more space in front of the terminal as well as upper and lower roads.
Tear down the garage in front of the terminal and rebuild it farther west....right over Abbot Drive. It's been done in other cities...not always near the airport but over interstates and downtown areas. I'm sure it's prohibitively expensive. On the other hand, it killed a few minutes while I wait for a plane in, um, wherever I am.
This is an amazing idea.

I second that. It's a really good idea.

Padre · Post by **Padre** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 9:51 pm

A flight from Las Vegas slid off the end of the runway at Eppley this afternoon.

Omaha-bound plane slides off end of icy runway at Eppley; airport closed after incident
https://www.omaha.com/news/metro/omaha- ... c2f98.html

Omababe · Post by **Omababe** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 9:59 pm

Padre wrote: Fri Jan 18, 2019 9:51 pm A flight from Las Vegas slid off the end of the runway at Eppley this afternoon.

Two of my co-workers who are airplane fanatics are on their way down there to see if they can, well, I have no clue, but they are all in a tizzy about it.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Tue Jan 22, 2019 3:02 am

Bob from Omaha wrote: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:05 am My last guess was 5,050,000 but I'll take it.

Now. Eppley lurkers. Listen close. Come closer. Get a piece of paper and a pen/pencil/crayon. Ready?
Call the OWH(whoever is left), the local TV stations (whoever is left), the Lincoln paper as well as those outstate, anyone else you can think of. Give them all the info on the fact that 2018 broke the all time record for passengers at Eppley. If you need some tips check out the Des Moines Register's story about the Des Moines airport. BIG headlines. Picture of the head of the airport. Lots of info about the planned terminal. (The Des Moines airport has a $200 million problem. They can't build theirs just yet) Give more details about Eppley's planned expansion.

This is a big deal. Use it to your advantage.

Oh, and owh lurkers, if you're still out there. Feel free to do a story on your own. This kind of thing used to be automatic in the owh years ago. Of course the owner of the paper doesn't feel there is anything the reporting staff can do to add value to the business. Column inches of ads, baby! Right?

P.S. The people have spoken. Upper road for departures, lower for arrivals. Also, Let's get going on non stops to Boston, Cancun, Memphis, New Orleans, Puerto Vallarta, BWI, Dulles, JFK, and Grand Island. Why not? Oh, yeah. High Ceilings, lots of light, moving sidewalks to the far gates, at least 50 women's bathroom stalls if not 100, a top level airfield viewing area, an attached hotel, real food both pre and post security, and on and on and on.

Front door to the city, right?

I would vote twice (the hubbie and me) for nonstop PVR flights! We just returned last night, via Denver. It would be nice to shave a few hours off the 1500 mile trip. But of course Omaha would need a full customs and immigration setup. I don’t see it happening.

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Wed Jan 23, 2019 4:20 am

What would be required that isn't already in place, in support of the Air Canada?

Mr.Nuke · Post by **Mr.Nuke** » Wed Jan 23, 2019 7:55 pm

Stargazer wrote: Wed Jan 23, 2019 4:20 am What would be required that isn't already in place, in support of the Air Canada?

Quite a bit. A Federal Inspection Station (FIS) would have to be built to segregate international arriving passengers to go through the Immigration and Customs process. If you've ever flown back into the U.S. from an international destination you'll understand how this works. As a passenger you are in separate sterile area with no way out but going through Immigration and then Customs after retrieving luggage. As of now this would require a separate significant structure. It would also have to be staffed. Staffing has been the issue for Omaha and many other airports in the past. The federal government won't guarantee staffing even if you build a facility; so actually building one is a fool's errand.

The Toronto flight doesn't require the FIS as passengers use what is essentially a U.S. FIS inside the Toronto airport before boarding the flight to clear U.S. C&I, hence the term pre-clearance. This means that flight is basically a domestic U.S. flight when it departs YYZ. All that flight requires is existing CBP presence attached to TAC Air, and the ability for the airport to separate passengers from the general terminal if they need to for additional processing for any reason Eppley can accomplish this by using a divider in the gate area for AC's gate.

A FIS at Eppley is like pandas at the zoo in many ways.

Post by **nebugeater** » Wed Jan 23, 2019 8:20 pm

Really shouldn't be that difficult for a Nebraskan

(Sorry, Had to)

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 12:26 am

nebugeater wrote: Wed Jan 23, 2019 8:20 pm Really shouldn't be that difficult for a Nebraskan

(Sorry, Had to)

Seems reasonable to me

...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Bob from Omaha · Post by **Bob from Omaha** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 1:09 pm

Without the lurkers letting us geeks in on the design process we are left to wonder what parameters are being considered with regard to expansion at OMA. Are they bearing in mind that Eppley is the gateway to the world for Eastern Nebraska, Western Iowa, and bits of South Dakota, Kansas and Missouri? Are they considering a possible hotel as part of the plan? How about bringing some Omaha-specific art, music and flavor into the design? One would hope that they aren't just considering a lifeless, boring, "efficient" plan.
Here is a video for Nashville's airport expansion. Both the video & the design have vision. Oh, and let's not get into the "Yeah but that's Nashville. Omaha is too small and doesn't deserve such a thing. They do over 7 million and Omaha only does 5 million" Bull. Not too long ago Omaha's airport served barely over 3 million. For once how about some pride in Omaha?

New Nashville Airport

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 2:44 pm

Bob from Omaha wrote: Thu Jan 24, 2019 1:09 pm Without the lurkers letting us geeks in on the design process we are left to wonder what parameters are being considered with regard to expansion at OMA. Are they bearing in mind that Eppley is the gateway to the world for Eastern Nebraska, Western Iowa, and bits of South Dakota, Kansas and Missouri? Are they considering a possible hotel as part of the plan? How about bringing some Omaha-specific art, music and flavor into the design? One would hope that they aren't just considering a lifeless, boring, "efficient" plan.
Here is a video for Nashville's airport expansion. Both the video & the design have vision. Oh, and let's not get into the "Yeah but that's Nashville. Omaha is too small and doesn't deserve such a thing. They do over 7 million and Omaha only does 5 million" Bull. Not too long ago Omaha's airport served barely over 3 million. For once how about some pride in Omaha?

New Nashville Airport

Agreed.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 2:50 pm

Nashville had nearly 16 million in 2018.

Bob from Omaha · Post by **Bob from Omaha** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 4:25 pm

iamjacobm wrote: Thu Jan 24, 2019 2:50 pm Nashville had nearly 16 million in 2018.

My bad. I quoted enplanements.

Mr.Nuke · Post by **Mr.Nuke** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 5:20 pm

Bob from Omaha wrote: Thu Jan 24, 2019 1:09 pm Omaha is too small and doesn't deserve such a thing. They do over 7 million and Omaha only does 5 million" Bull.

Yeah the more apt comparison is 5 million to just shy of 16 million. I'd argue that is not bull and a very significant difference in facility needs.

TitosBuritoBarn · Post by **TitosBuritoBarn** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 5:31 pm

Mr.Nuke wrote: Thu Jan 24, 2019 5:20 pm
Bob from Omaha wrote: Thu Jan 24, 2019 1:09 pm Omaha is too small and doesn't deserve such a thing. They do over 7 million and Omaha only does 5 million" Bull.
Yeah the more apt comparison is 5 million to just shy of 16 million. I'd argue that is not bull and a very significant difference in facility needs.

Got that bachelorette party industry on lock.

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Fri Jan 25, 2019 1:47 am

Record year breaking a major barrier and no media???

ScrattyB · Post by **ScrattyB** » Fri Jan 25, 2019 3:26 pm

I wonder if the government shutdown will effect the numbers...less business fliers, people not booking because they are afraid of long TSA lines, Southwest not flying to Hawaii yet, govt workers trying to save money, etc.

If the customs/immigration people stop working in Toronto, then we would lose that Toronto flight.

joleo · Post by **joleo** » Fri Jan 25, 2019 4:11 pm

OmahaJaysCU wrote: Fri Jan 25, 2019 1:47 am Record year breaking a major barrier and no media???

I know! Crazy! Need a terminal design update along with the article when they write it. Why is this not front page news? Here in Des Moines, it has been front page news on the record traffic and several times on the new terminal and progress. So dissapointing the Omaha paper doesn't realize how important the airport and new flights are to the local economy!

Here in Des Moines, they are trying to get money from the state so they can build the terminal super nice as it is the first impression of most travelers arriving in Iowa. Does anybody know what kind of lobbying efforts that Eppley uses in Lincoln? Do they have a full time lobbyist on staff that hits both Omaha and Lincoln? How does that work for Eppley?