US. Omaha Airport Authority has announced a US$950 million plan to modernise the Eppley Airfield Airport terminal.
The plan seeks to elevate the passenger experience and enable growth, the company said.
Described as the most significant upgrade in nearly 40 years, the expansion and renovation project will increase the terminal space to approximately 60,015sq m from the current 34,838sq m. It will also feature a larger space for restaurants and retail concessions located beyond the security checkpoint.
Other facilities to be built include two gates to accommodate international flights, as well as a Customs and Border Protection international arrivals hall for international passenger processing.
An airline ticketing space and a single, unified concourse with a centralised Transportation Security Administration security screening checkpoint will form part of this project.
The expanded terminal will feature larger gate areas with more charging ports and new seating, as well as more restrooms, family restrooms, companion care and nursing rooms.
The programme has a strong focus on accessibility throughout the terminal, including 725ft of curbless entry along the lane adjacent to the terminal.
The outdoor area will be fully covered by a glass canopy, and additional pick-up and drop-off lanes will be built.
With completion scheduled for 2028, the project will be carried out in phases to minimise disruptions to travellers and ensure the airport remains operational throughout the process.
Omaha Airport Authority CEO Dave Roth said: “As the city of Omaha grows, as our airline partners grow, we want to make sure that we keep in step with them and grow as well.
“We have a programme that is need-based that will meet the needs of both the community of Omaha and our airlines. During the programme, we want to make sure we maintain the customer convenience and we also improve the customer experience as we go into our new facilities.
“We also want to provide a cost-effective phased implementation of our programme to keep up with our city’s growth and also our airline partners’ growth. When we complete the terminal, we want to make sure that we reflect the character and the values of our community.”
Roth added: “Our long-term vision for the airport is to make sure we have sustainable traffic well into the future for both the growth of the city of Omaha and the region and also for the airline growth.”
Eppley Airfield Airport dubbed 2023 as the second-busiest year in its history, serving more than 5 million passengers, a year-on-year growth of +11%. Last year’s traffic also exceeded the 2019 pre-pandemic numbers. ✈
