Omaha Eppley Airfield - DISCUSSION

[Mr.Nuke]

January up 1.5% over last year.

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

[skinzfan23]

not amazing growth, but at least it went up. Most of the loss was from Frontier.

[Bob from Omaha]

KC finally got off their a s s and posted their 2024 final numbers. I emailed them about it. They were nice & responded pretty quick.

Anyway, here are the final statistics for OMA, DSM & MCI..

[Bearcat06]

KC finally got off their a s s and posted their 2024 final numbers. I emailed them about it. They were nice & responded pretty quick.

Anyway, here are the final statistics for OMA, DSM & MCI..

So...neck and neck with MCI on growth last year and their brand new terminal. Should be interesting to see how they compare going forward though I believe they do about double the traffic as OMA and they were still pushing for international flights, I believe.

[riceweb]

Suggests that the new terminal in Omaha won't have any real impact on travel patterns. There are broader trends that have more of an impact on air travel around here.

[iamjacobm]

Suggests that the new terminal in Omaha won't have any real impact on travel patterns. There are broader trends that have more of an impact on air travel around here.

I agree I doubt new terminals actually impact traffic numbers in any material amount, maybe at hubs for people deciding between carriers but not smaller makets. It’s still good to make things more efficient and pleasant for travelers and is a nice front door for a lot of visitors.

[riceweb]

Suggests that the new terminal in Omaha won't have any real impact on travel patterns. There are broader trends that have more of an impact on air travel around here.

I agree I doubt new terminals actually impact traffic numbers in any material amount, maybe at hubs for people deciding between carriers but not smaller makets. It’s still good to make things more efficient and pleasant for travelers and is a nice front door for a lot of visitors.

Yup, just managing expectations. Lots of posters here seem to think it'll make Eppley into a behemoth, but mostly it's just long overdue upgrades to a pre-9/11 airport. It's now been 23.5 years since 9/11 and we're only now getting around to rebuilding airports around modern security practices. And the airport has been underselling passengers because our airport experience is so poor compared to modern airports (there's basically nothing to do/eat so our airport generates less revenue than it should).

it's an all-around great upgrade, but unlikely to produce a noticeable bump in passenger numbers.

[Brad]

New Construction Update was posted yesterday. Not a lot new in there but they did say they are almost done with the central utilities plant.

[Ryan Air]

Suggests that the new terminal in Omaha won't have any real impact on travel patterns. There are broader trends that have more of an impact on air travel around here.

100%

[Ben]

New Construction Update was posted yesterday. Not a lot new in there but they did say they are almost done with the central utilities plant.

Odd point taken from the video. Terminal drive canopy will be ready this spring, but not get put into use until '26, as they'll keep it closed to allow for central terminal demolition / build? Why wouldn't they have just delayed this portion of the project instead of leaving it unused, and potentially damaging the canopy during construction of the terminal?

[Mr.Nuke]

Yup, just managing expectations. Lots of posters here seem to think it'll make Eppley into a behemoth, but mostly it's just long overdue upgrades to a pre-9/11 airport.

In fairness I haven't seen "lots of posters" suggesting that. I can think of one or two isolated posts off of the top of my head that were basically ignored. If anything the field of dreams "Build it and they will come" stuff has been more prevalent in Kansas City. As you noted, and it wasn't unexpected, that isn't how it works.

Odd point taken from the video. Terminal drive canopy will be ready this spring, but not get put into use until '26, as they'll keep it closed to allow for central terminal demolition / build? Why wouldn't they have just delayed this portion of the project instead of leaving it unused, and potentially damaging the canopy during construction of the terminal?

Potentially for a couple of reasons. The decision to keep the existing terminal drive and add the canopy was made well before the design for the terminal was finalized. They were able to subsequently get a significant amount of federal funding for the project. Some of said funding (maybe all?) had time restrictions on when it needed to be used by i.e. basically they needed to do it now. Lastly, they're obviously delaying using the new drive until 2026 to finish the exterior of the new terminal. So at that point, it was a decision of either lets do this now and not wait later, or wait and do nothing when you could've been doing stuff on the terminal drive, have the exterior of the new terminal finished, but still be working on the road and canopy. That seems like a fairly easy decision to make to me. The federal funding was an added bonus.

[riceweb]

If anything the field of dreams "Build it and they will come" stuff has been more prevalent in Kansas City. As you noted, and it wasn't unexpected, that isn't how it works.

Good point on Kansas City. They don't appear to be any closer to landing new routes like they hinted / promised? OMA meanwhile has a pretty good chance of seasonal flights directly to some resort towns, no?

[Mr.Nuke]

If anything the field of dreams "Build it and they will come" stuff has been more prevalent in Kansas City. As you noted, and it wasn't unexpected, that isn't how it works.

Good point on Kansas City. They don't appear to be any closer to landing new routes like they hinted / promised? OMA meanwhile has a pretty good chance of seasonal flights directly to some resort towns, no?

Apologies for the slow response. Yeah I don't think Kansas City themselves promised anything it was more posters online that expected it with a new terminal. Like you noted, that isn't how it works.

For Omaha, yeah there is a slight expectation of a new route or routes ultimately out of this if the FIS is staffed. By being able to handle international flights, Cancun would happen seasonally instantly. There may be one or two other international routes tried at some point based on slightly larger cities in our area as well.

[Brad]

30th Anniversary for Southwest in Omaha

[Linkin5]

Dallas, Denver, Phoenix?

[TitosBuritoBarn]

I'm guessing DAL, MDW, and DEN.

[joleo]

I'm guessing DAL, MDW, and DEN.

Original 3 were MDW, LAS and PHX. STL was added pretty quickly, within the first year or so.

[iamjacobm]

If I remember right Southwest couldn't fly outside of a certain perimeter from Dallas when they built DFW. Part of the deal for the federal govt to help them pay for that airport and Omaha was outside that perimeter until about a decade ago when that restriction sunset.

[nebugeater]

If I remember right Southwest couldn't fly outside of a certain perimeter from Dallas when they built DFW. Part of the deal for the federal govt to help them pay for that airport and Omaha was outside that perimeter until about a decade ago when that restriction sunset.

Never knew that. Seems kind of stange to limit the posabilty of sucsss

[iamjacobm]

If I remember right Southwest couldn't fly outside of a certain perimeter from Dallas when they built DFW. Part of the deal for the federal govt to help them pay for that airport and Omaha was outside that perimeter until about a decade ago when that restriction sunset.

Never knew that. Seems kind of stange to limit the posabilty of sucsss

I should add it was them flying out of Dallas Love not DFW. I googled it, the Wright Act. I am sure I’m off on some specifics but it looks like they did restrict Southwest in that market for a while.

[Bob from Omaha]

1995 OMA was Vegas, Phoenix & Chicago Midway. Very cheap fares & all the original Southwest amenities. They had a frequent flyer card where you got a punch on the card for every flight. 10 flights & you got a free one. In 1996 I flew 30 round trips & ended up with 5 free flights & a companion pass for the following year. Any time I flew, even if it was on a free ticket my wife went with me for free.

Anyway, prior to that I would drive to KC. They had Southwest since 1982. Their growth in Omaha was pretty slow until fairly recently. For a long time it was mainly MDW, PHX & LAS. BUT the Southwest Effect certainly made a difference if you were connecting to somewhere through Southwest.

[swgiust]

I love the growth at Eppley and look forward to more flights. But for now, IT IS A TOTAL SH@T SHOW. If you cant walk two blocks or god forbid you have some sort of disability, you can't get into the place. We flew a couple of weeks ago and literally
froze on our way in. They should of completed the "roof" before they tore up the terminal. Not good planning.

[Brad]

I love the growth at Eppley and look forward to more flights. But for now, IT IS A TOTAL SH@T SHOW. If you cant walk two blocks or god forbid you have some sort of disability, you can't get into the place. We flew a couple of weeks ago and literally
froze on our way in. They should of completed the "roof" before they tore up the terminal. Not good planning.

While the new roof may keep the rain off, its still open air and not going to keep you any warmer.

[iamjacobm]

I love the growth at Eppley and look forward to more flights. But for now, IT IS A TOTAL SH@T SHOW. If you cant walk two blocks or god forbid you have some sort of disability, you can't get into the place. We flew a couple of weeks ago and literally
froze on our way in. They should of completed the "roof" before they tore up the terminal. Not good planning.

While the new roof may keep the rain off, its still open air and not going to keep you any warmer.

I went through a couple weeks ago when it was that bitter cold stretch as well and yeah it is no fun to walk further getting dropped off in the garage and zig zagging around in that cold, but is hard to imagine the logistics in place to get this aggressive construction schedule done at the same time accommodating record passengers through the gates.

Some short term inconveniences are to be expected and I think will be more than made up for in the coming decades with the improved airport.

[Bearcat06]

Southwest is ending their free checked bag policy for most travelers starting in May.

Considering they make up roughly 36% of travel through OMA, do you think there will be any impact to their share? I would think baggage fees may put them closer to the Big three as far as pricing is concerned. May other low cost carriers consider jumping in the market?

https://www.travelandleisure.com/southw ... s-11694568

[skinzfan23]

I think Southwest fares aren't a whole lot cheaper now compared to years ago. I definitely feel like this will have a huge impact to Southwest. Between this and now having assigned seats, they are losing their competitive advantage and probably customers as a result. We had 6 of us traveling last year and the no baggage fees were a big deal because that would have over $350.

[NEDodger]

I think Southwest fares aren't a whole lot cheaper now compared to years ago. I definitely feel like this will have a huge impact to Southwest. Between this and now having assigned seats, they are losing their competitive advantage and probably customers as a result. We had 6 of us traveling last year and the no baggage fees were a big deal because that would have over $350.

Same. There’s literally no reason to take Southwest now. I know the CEO pushed back on this but lost out to their major investors because they had dollar signs in their eyes. Well, instead of this adding 75 bucks to their bottom line, it’s going to lose them 300 bucks.

[skinzfan23]

It is interesting what may happen at OMA since we have such a high proportion of SW flights.

And like you mentioned, the investor group just sees $$$$$, but they don't think about the other effects it could have. Yes, there are probably some instances where they will have increased revenue, but like I mentioned, I will definitely think twice or search other airlines before booking with SW.

[almighty_tuna]

Yeah for sure. This was really the only reason I would look at Southwest's fares anymore. The savings was in the free bags - now I gotta buy my kids seats.

[Garrett]

It is interesting what may happen at OMA since we have such a high proportion of SW flights.

And like you mentioned, the investor group just sees $$$$$, but they don't think about the other effects it could have. Yes, there are probably some instances where they will have increased revenue, but like I mentioned, I will definitely think twice or search other airlines before booking with SW.

There's a lot of possibilities! If this spooks some of Southwest's market, you could (in my non-aviation educated theorizing) see more lower cost carriers expand operations.

[Stan]

I think Southwest fares aren't a whole lot cheaper now compared to years ago. I definitely feel like this will have a huge impact to Southwest. Between this and now having assigned seats, they are losing their competitive advantage and probably customers as a result. We had 6 of us traveling last year and the no baggage fees were a big deal because that would have over $350.

Same. There’s literally no reason to take Southwest now. I know the CEO pushed back on this but lost out to their major investors because they had dollar signs in their eyes. Well, instead of this adding 75 bucks to their bottom line, it’s going to lose them 300 bucks.

Maybe SW baggage fees are just their New Coke and they'll bring back no fees again in 6 months.

[GenX]

I think Southwest fares aren't a whole lot cheaper now compared to years ago. I definitely feel like this will have a huge impact to Southwest. Between this and now having assigned seats, they are losing their competitive advantage and probably customers as a result. We had 6 of us traveling last year and the no baggage fees were a big deal because that would have over $350.

Same. There’s literally no reason to take Southwest now. I know the CEO pushed back on this but lost out to their major investors because they had dollar signs in their eyes. Well, instead of this adding 75 bucks to their bottom line, it’s going to lose them 300 bucks.

Maybe SW baggage fees are just their New Coke and they'll bring back no fees again in 6 months.

This.

[Brad]

What, the Arby’s potato cakes didn’t want to be part of that? lol

[Bob from Omaha]

Elliott owns 11% of Southwest. Hardly a majority owner. I'm not going to go into the whole class on activist investors but there is a dynamic involved.

[Garrett]

Elliott owns 11% of Southwest. Hardly a majority owner. I'm not going to go into the whole class on activist investors but there is a dynamic involved.

It can certainly be enough to cause shakeups at least, given ConAgra moving to Chicago was partially caused by JANA getting 7% ownership

[Bellevue Kid]

In case anyone is looking for something to do next Thursday morning from 9-10:30.

Eppley Common-Use Lounge RFP Annoucement

Invitation: COMMON-USE LOUNGE VIRTUAL INDUSTRY DAY

[Bob from Omaha]

So was this always planned or did a tenant back out & they now have space?

[Mr.Nuke]

So was this always planned or did a tenant back out & they now have space?

Their was space for a lounge going back to their conceptual top down drawings years ago. It wasn't part of the RFP package for the rest of the concessions. So I'd go with this was always planned.

[joleo]

So was this always planned or did a tenant back out & they now have space?

Their was space for a lounge going back to their conceptual top down drawings years ago. It wasn't part of the RFP package for the rest of the concessions. So I'd go with this was always planned.

Does anybody know if they marketed to American, Delta or United for a club first? If one of the big 3 decided to do a club, they would get a good chuck of the Omaha business traffic over time. Delta added a club in KC and is now dominated of the big 3 airlines in KC for business travelers and just added RDU from MCI as well to make it 10 nonstop cities served from KC.

I would think American would be best positioned in Omaha to add a club. They will be up to 8 nonstop cities from Omaha.

[Bob from Omaha]

I found three unassigned spaces though one is pre security so I don't think that's the one.