Omaha Eppley Airfield - DISCUSSION

[thenewguy]

I stopped at the sbarro on 90th inside the kwikshop and the manager mentioned they would be in eppley. I couldn't remember if that was brought up or not, so there you go.

[nativeomahan]

UA could add EWR & IAD.

The airport should do incentives to get these pre-covid routes back like many airports around the nation have. This a boon for the citizens of the city and saves citizens time and money. EWR is the biggest hole right now from pre-covid. PDX and SAN also were dropped but I don't think these stopped because of covid if my memory is correct? It's a bit fuzzy now.

OMA doesn't use bribes. Never did.

I know I've read that before but when the majority of airports do around the nation, even the big ones, it's much slower going getting new service without doing them. It is money well spent and has lead to southwest dominating omaha with high fares. Omaha used to always be cheaper than des moines and I used to take advantage of this at least 5 times a year or more. I've only flown out of omaha once in the past 5 years now as des moines is the same price or cheaper now. I also know a ton of people constantly driving to des moines for lower fares and nonstop flights, especially the last 5 years when that wasn't really a thing 5+ years ago. For example, I know a friend and his family doing it next month, another family doing it in march etc etc.

I don't know if there's truth to this or not, but I have noticed whenever SW advertises these low fare specials on TV/online/etc, it does seem like Omaha NEVER has any of their low rates. I swear at one time you could buy tix to Chicago and maybe even Vegas for less than $100 each way on SW.

You are most definitely correct. Prices for their OMA-PVR service have been sky high (no pun intended) for several years now.

[MetcalfeHarrison]

I have heard Scooters and The Mill both backed out of being a part of concessions currently. Not sure if that is just during construction or for good, but I got that information from a Mill employee that was supposed to help train there. Has anyone been recently to see if the Scooters inside are still open?

[flick70]

Looks like the upper level of the terminal closes in February.

[nebport5]

I have heard Scooters and The Mill both backed out of being a part of concessions currently. Not sure if that is just during construction or for good, but I got that information from a Mill employee that was supposed to help train there. Has anyone been recently to see if the Scooters inside are still open?

I don't know anything about any partners backing out but all the food and beverage for the time being is generic branding. So there isn't a Scooter's per se but there are places to get coffee and limited food options, mostly grab and go and snacks.

[iamjacobm]

Another great update. Incredible how much work has been done in one year.

[Brad]

Another great update. Incredible how much work has been done in one year.

You're not kidding. Looks like they have the foundation in all the way across between the two existing terminals. You would think they would get to work on demolition in the middle asap so they can get the debris out before they keep moving north with all the steel. The amount of steel erected is impressive too. Its larger than the south terminal its connected too. The speed of the windows over the drop-off/pickup lanes is interesting.

[Bob from Omaha]

Another great update. Incredible how much work has been done in one year.

You're not kidding. Looks like they have the foundation in all the way across between the two existing terminals. You would think they would get to work on demolition in the middle asap so they can get the debris out before they keep moving north with all the steel. The amount of steel erected is impressive too. Its larger than the south terminal its connected too. The speed of the windows over the drop-off/pickup lanes is interesting.

As I understand it they have to finish the central utilities plant before they can remove gate 21.

[Brad]

Another great update. Incredible how much work has been done in one year.

You're not kidding. Looks like they have the foundation in all the way across between the two existing terminals. You would think they would get to work on demolition in the middle asap so they can get the debris out before they keep moving north with all the steel. The amount of steel erected is impressive too. Its larger than the south terminal its connected too. The speed of the windows over the drop-off/pickup lanes is interesting.

As I understand it they have to finish the central utilities plant before they can remove gate 21.

Yeah, I get that. I'm just not sure how long it takes to build a Central Utilities plant? The new CUP has been enclosed since September, could they have it done in 5 months (Feb)? Eppley's website says "2025" but the terminal will be split in Feb so that's why I ask if it could be done by Feb.

[Bob from Omaha]

I wasn't really looking but this popped up. It's a nice little video showing car rental area & more

Eppley Car Rental & More

[Brad]

Eppley Airfield Breaks Passenger Record in 2024
Jan 21, 2025
https://growomaha.com/news-briefs/

Eppley Airfield set an annual record for passenger traffic in 2024 with 5,277,326 travelers flying through the airport, according to the Omaha Airport Authority. The record-setting volume surpassed the previous record of 5,043,194 passengers set in 2018. The new milestone is a 5 percent increase over 2023 passenger totals.

[almighty_tuna]

Yesss!! Can't wait for the growth to continue with the new terminal.

[skinzfan23]

Great to see!

[Bearcat06]

Eppley Airfield Breaks Passenger Record in 2024
Jan 21, 2025
https://growomaha.com/news-briefs/

Eppley Airfield set an annual record for passenger traffic in 2024 with 5,277,326 travelers flying through the airport, according to the Omaha Airport Authority. The record-setting volume surpassed the previous record of 5,043,194 passengers set in 2018. The new milestone is a 5 percent increase over 2023 passenger totals.

Nice! Another good year for OMA.

Looks like I was only 11k off on my estimate as well! Last update I provided was an estimate of 5,288,550. I'll take that as a win.

[Mr.Nuke]

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

[Omaha Cowboy]

Eppley Airfield Breaks Passenger Record in 2024
Jan 21, 2025
https://growomaha.com/news-briefs/

Eppley Airfield set an annual record for passenger traffic in 2024 with 5,277,326 travelers flying through the airport, according to the Omaha Airport Authority. The record-setting volume surpassed the previous record of 5,043,194 passengers set in 2018. The new milestone is a 5 percent increase over 2023 passenger totals.

Awesome news …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Bob from Omaha]

Yep, awesome news...and the owh can't find anyone to write about it. It doesn't really matter. The 10 or so subscribers will probably hear about it from somewhere else, or not.

[joleo]

Yep, awesome news...and the owh can't find anyone to write about it. It doesn't really matter. The 10 or so subscribers will probably hear about it from somewhere else, or not.

Right, I agree. It was front page of the Des Moines register and on every news channel here about record passenger numbers. It's also on every news channel that Des Moines is getting Jacksonville and Boston on Allegiant, not a single Omaha news channel picked up Omaha is getting Sarasota nonstop. I have a friend that works for the Des Moines airport, she said the airport contacts all the news sources in des moines to make sure the news gets out. I think that is the part that is missing from Eppley would be my guess. Hopefully Eppley gets the news to do a story when Omaha-Sarasota start February 14th, by the prices Allegiant is charging, the route is looking weak, I don't think people know about it is the problem.

[MadJack]

It's my understanding that the Omaha Airport Authority sends all of their press releases to all the local media. Some media outlets are better at covering the news than others. If it doesn't relate to Husker football, the OWH might not notice it. If it's not about a salacious crime, local television isn't interested.

[skinzfan23]

Yep, awesome news...and the owh can't find anyone to write about it. It doesn't really matter. The 10 or so subscribers will probably hear about it from somewhere else, or not.

I swear they read this forum. Now today, they finally have a story about the airport setting passenger records.

[skinzfan23]

They at least did include a couple of photos as well:

[Brad]

They at least did include a couple of photos as well:

Ummmm.... Why is the grass green and it appears there are still leaves on the trees? Also the new utilities plant was enclosed in August/Sept and in one photo you can see its still open. Oh, and one more thing, the new concourse isn't there behind the utilities plant yet and that steel started going up last fall too.

[Bob from Omaha]

Yep, awesome news...and the owh can't find anyone to write about it. It doesn't really matter. The 10 or so subscribers will probably hear about it from somewhere else, or not.

I swear they read this forum. Now today, they finally have a story about the airport setting passenger records.

Over the years it sure seemed like they did read this forum. The TV stations carried the Eppley story. Maybe some intern saw it on TV. Papers in general are dying out. My issue is that the owh in particular should win an award for lack of content. The Lincoln paper has more local news.

[Garrett]

Yep, awesome news...and the owh can't find anyone to write about it. It doesn't really matter. The 10 or so subscribers will probably hear about it from somewhere else, or not.

I swear they read this forum. Now today, they finally have a story about the airport setting passenger records.

Over the years it sure seemed like they did read this forum. The TV stations carried the Eppley story. Maybe some intern saw it on TV. Papers in general are dying out. My issue is that the owh in particular should win an award for lack of content. The Lincoln paper has more local news.

I had a “support local journalism” phase during COVID and subscribed to the website for a bit. I subscribed, generally enjoyed it for a few years, but then started to notice a general decline in the promptness and quality of the reporting. Then, the Nebraska Examiner came along, and got the scoop on the Mutual of Omaha tower/Streetcar announcement, probably the city’s biggest development story of the last 30 years, and the OWH had nothing about it until the official announcement the next day. These days, you can get good day-to-day reporting from local TV, exceptional in depth reporting from the Nebraska Examiner and Flatwater Free Press, and now even incredibly specific and detailed development news from Grow Omaha, all for free. The OWH seems to just be flat footed on reporting anything beyond sports news these days.

[Renovator2559]

Eppley Airfield Breaks Passenger Record in 2024
Jan 21, 2025
https://growomaha.com/news-briefs/

Eppley Airfield set an annual record for passenger traffic in 2024 with 5,277,326 travelers flying through the airport, according to the Omaha Airport Authority. The record-setting volume surpassed the previous record of 5,043,194 passengers set in 2018. The new milestone is a 5 percent increase over 2023 passenger totals.

This is a great feat for Eppley Airfield and Omaha! especially when comparing similar sized metros in the central region.

Des Moines 3,176,952 million
Tulsa 3.5 million (estimate)
Omaha 5,277,326 million
Oklahoma City 4,602,737 million

Tulsa has a primary and a secondary airport that was built to alleviate the international airport

Tulsa International Airport, had 3,247,670 flights for 2024
https://www.instagram.com/flytulsa/reel/DFajh9OPTzx/

Tulsa Riverside Airport, (expected) to have 268,000 flights for 2024
https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/busin ... e%20nation.

In total Tulsa had about 3.5 million; which is not something expected for a city that is considered to be the unofficially sister city of Omaha, with an almost identical metro size of 1 million.

Des Moines is a slightly smaller metro than Omaha and Tulsa, yet Des Moines trails Tulsa at 3.1 million vs Tulsa's 3.5 million flights.

Even OKC, a slightly larger metro than Omaha; had 4.6 Million
https://www.okc.gov/Home/Components/News/News/5295/

I just can't believe how much Eppley Airfield punches over its weight on flight numbers compared to peers, and OKC; which is a larger metro!
What is Omaha doing to attract so much flight activity much more than its unofficial sister city Tulsa, OK and even beating the larger OKC metro?

[Cermak]

Omaha’s numbers are impressive. I know it gets a good amount of travelers from Lincoln and Sioux City, even some from Sioux Falls.

[Louie]

Who is considering Tulsa our sister city? This is just you trying to make fetch happen.

[Renovator2559]

Who is considering Tulsa our sister city? This is just you trying to make fetch happen.

While I used the term "unofficial sister city", it doesn't imply that Omaha and Tulsa have or should have any form of true "sister city" relations as Omaha has with 9 international sister cities. This was just a term used to denote how similar these two cities are vs a regular peer city that is more dissimilar.

Omaha and Tulsa are of the same metro size, are both listed side by side in the top most conservative big cities chart by Pew Research, have similar high private donors per capita, have very similar culture, similar topography, have very similar riverfronts both built around the same time, both riverfronts were built with mostly private donors, are centrally located US cities. Also, Tulsa just built a pedestrian bridge for their riverfront as Omaha builds our Bob Kerry bridge extension.
Omaha tends to appear higher in various city ranks, while Tulsa tends to appear lower but nearby to Omaha.

Where they are different, Tulsa is a much more car centric city than Omaha and of course we all know what that entails for an urban environment.

I am curious to know if there are other cities in the US, that are as similar as Tulsa is to Omaha.

[Cermak]

Who is considering Tulsa our sister city? This is just you trying to make fetch happen.

While I used the term "unofficial sister city", it doesn't imply that Omaha and Tulsa have or should have any form of true "sister city" relations as Omaha has with 9 international sister cities. This was just a term used to denote how similar these two cities are vs a regular peer city that is more dissimilar.

Omaha and Tulsa are of the same metro size, are both listed side by side in the top most conservative big cities chart by Pew Research, have similar high private donors per capita, have very similar culture, similar topography, have very similar riverfronts both built around the same time, both riverfronts were built with mostly private donors, are centrally located US cities. Also, Tulsa just built a pedestrian bridge for their riverfront as Omaha builds our Bob Kerry bridge extension.
Omaha tends to appear higher in various city ranks, while Tulsa tends to appear lower but nearby to Omaha.

Where they are different, Tulsa is a much more car centric city than Omaha and of course we all know what that entails for an urban environment.

I am curious to know if there are other cities in the US, that are as similar as Tulsa is to Omaha.

I was in Albuquerque, it’s population size and amenities are very similar to Omaha. Both cities are the dominant city in their state. And both have a capital city less than an hour’s drive away with Santa Fe and Lincoln. Politically and culturally they are different however. Omaha’s skyline is much better, but they have mountains.

[almighty_tuna]

Politically and culturally they are different however. Omaha’s skyline is much better, but they have mountains.

...and a proper light rail commuter line to Santa Fe.

[mistergutierrez]

Who is considering Tulsa our sister city? This is just you trying to make fetch happen.

While I used the term "unofficial sister city", it doesn't imply that Omaha and Tulsa have or should have any form of true "sister city" relations as Omaha has with 9 international sister cities. This was just a term used to denote how similar these two cities are vs a regular peer city that is more dissimilar.

Omaha and Tulsa are of the same metro size, are both listed side by side in the top most conservative big cities chart by Pew Research, have similar high private donors per capita, have very similar culture, similar topography, have very similar riverfronts both built around the same time, both riverfronts were built with mostly private donors, are centrally located US cities. Also, Tulsa just built a pedestrian bridge for their riverfront as Omaha builds our Bob Kerry bridge extension.
Omaha tends to appear higher in various city ranks, while Tulsa tends to appear lower but nearby to Omaha.

Where they are different, Tulsa is a much more car centric city than Omaha and of course we all know what that entails for an urban environment.

I am curious to know if there are other cities in the US, that are as similar as Tulsa is to Omaha.

Tucson

[Renovator2559]

I was in Albuquerque, it’s population size and amenities are very similar to Omaha. Both cities are the dominant city in their state. And both have a capital city less than an hour’s drive away with Santa Fe and Lincoln. Politically and culturally they are different however. Omaha’s skyline is much better, but they have mountains.

Glad you mentioned Albuquerque!

Also, add to that both of their states are 2M in population, though NM is growing at a very slow rate.
The more I dig into New Mexico, the more its apparent that New Mexico is Nebraska's opposite "twin".

For the 2024 of how well all states are run, Nebraska is 3 and New Mexico is 49, complete polar opposites.
https://www.usnews.com/media/best-state ... s-2024.pdf

New Mexico: The most dependent state on the federal government
Nebraska: One of the least dependent states on the federal government



https://digg.com/finance/link/states-mo ... 59CWzbWb10

There are more night and day differences between NM and NE, but that's sufficient to list.

The Top 500 Airports by passenger enplanements for the year 2023, show how Omaha and Lincoln mirrors Albuquerque and Santa Fe, the dots are almost identical. These 2 city pairs also have their primary and secondary cities arranged into a diagonal pattern.



For ABQ and OMA are right next to each other in how busy they are as medium hubs, with ABQ generally having 100k more enplanement passengers than OMA and OMA overtaking ABQ during covid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_t ... ted_States

The 2024 ABQ official flight passengers are not yet published for the full year but most likely they should be similar to OMAs 5.3M

With New Mexico's much slower in population growth, OMA may overtake ABQ in passenger numbers.

ABQ's nearest largest city is El Paso at 3hrs and 50 mins a lesser chance for another airport to cannibalize flight numbers of ABQ, while OMA is flanked by larger KCI and smaller DSM which has a higher chance to cannibalizing OMAs flight numbers.

[Greg S]

Interesting to see California as one of the least dependent.

[F0R_L1F3]

[Bearcat06]

Interesting to see California as one of the least dependent.

California is the 5th largest economy in the world and largest state economy in the US. They subsidize a lot of states who think they would be better off without California and their politics.

[Bearcat06]

Facebook update from Eppley today.

The next phase of construction starts next week and we will officially have two separate terminals on the first and second levels.

[ProgKingHughesker]

This is all that’s left of the North Food Court as of last Thursday

[Brad]

Allegiant moved to the north terminal

[joleo]

Omaha to Sarasota Nonstop starts today on Allegiant. Flights are not booking well on most days, mainly because I don't think people know about them because this wasn't mentioned in the media at all! Hopefully Eppley reaches out and get some good media today on the first nonstop flight between the two cities!

Good news with the flights not booking well, the flights are really cheap! Nonstop roundtrip to Florida for $100 bucks, can't beat that!

[Bob from Omaha]

Who is considering Tulsa our sister city? This is just you trying to make fetch happen.

Not so much sister city but Tulsa and Omaha have been considered peers for decades by economic development officials and chambers of commerce.