Lincoln (LNK) Airport Updates

[Husker15]

Why did Lincoln expand in 2022 and Omaha currently doing a major renovation when, in my simple mind, it would have made way more sense to put an airport in gretna.

This would be great for Lincoln but why would Omaha ever agree to this. 90% of flyers use them anyway so they have 0 incentive to move.

 

[jaihawk]

This would be great for Lincoln but why would Omaha ever agree to this. 90% of flyers use them anyway so they have 0 incentive to move.

1. As Omaha continues to grow west, Eppley gets further and further away for those folks.
2. If you had a larger airport, say in the Ashland area, I'm fairly sure that the I-80 corridor would, overnight, become a huge industrial park.
3. Even though Eppley is technically in Nebraska, let's be honest, it's in Cockeye and there's just something really wrong about that.

 

[Seaofred92]

Good article on the future of LNK and the organized efforts to attract another carrier:

Lincoln Airport Authority sets strategic goals for new air service, growing industrial park

Lincoln Airport Authority sets strategic goals for new air service, growing industrial park

The Airport Authority board laid out its priorities in a strategic plan approved Monday. The plan addresses goals for air service, its industrial park and more.

journalstar.com

- Attempting to attract a new “leisure” carrier by 2026 and a “mainline” carrier by 2027

- Wanting to grow seating capacity by 5% YoY as an annual goal

Seems they may have been successful at this… per LJS the LNK Airport Authority Board is meeting on Tuesday to “approve a new air service agreement”

 

[BIG TONE SOPRANO]

Seems they may have been successful at this… per LJS the LNK Airport Authority Board is meeting on Tuesday to “approve a new air service agreement”

Kearney has a bigger airport than Lincoln lol. As long a liberal townies are in charge of Lincoln, it’s never gonna be more than a below average college town aside from 6 days a year.

 

[Seaofred92]

Breeze Airways is coming to Lincoln with a direct flight to Orlando:

 

[ShortSideOption]

Breeze Airways is coming to Lincoln with a direct flight to Orlando:

Over under 6 months?

 

[TampaBaySkers]

Breeze Airways is coming to Lincoln with a direct flight to Orlando:

Disney adult freaks will love this !

 

[Seaofred92]

Hidden in yesterday’s Breeze announcement was some additional info on LNK’s efforts to land a mainline carrier:

In recent months, the airport has been devoting more funding to attracting air service. In June, the airport revealed that they had been increasing their budget for air service, which includes money set aside for a minimum revenue guarantee that would be accessible to airlines introducing new air service.


Representatives from the airport have been going to air service conferences to discuss airlines coming to Lincoln. In a June conference — the JumpStart Air Service Development Conference in Indianapolis, which the airport described as "speed dating" with airlines — the airport met with Breeze along with American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, SkyWest Airlines and United Airlines.

We're going to Disney World: Breeze Airways to begin Lincoln service later this year

A low-cost leisure carrier comparable to Allegiant, Frontier, Southwest and Spirit airlines is coming to Lincoln with flights starting later this year.

journalstar.com

 

[Seaofred92]

Over under 6 months?

The airport's contract with Breeze on Tuesday sets up a four-year agreement with the airline. Board member Chris Stokes was absent from Tuesday's meeting, but signaled his support for the agreement.

The agreement includes a minimum revenue guarantee of $3.75 million over four years with $1.5 million in the first year. Emlich said there are also opportunities for growth and new destinations provided the Orlando route goes well.

We're going to Disney World: Breeze Airways to begin Lincoln service later this year

A low-cost leisure carrier comparable to Allegiant, Frontier, Southwest and Spirit airlines is coming to Lincoln with flights starting later this year.

journalstar.com

 

[Kazman5k]

Breeze airlines sounds like an airline pilots have to work for after getting a DUI

 

[2010sarenevercomingback]

Seems like the move would be for Lincoln to create some flights to destinations that aren't available direct from Omaha - especially vacation type spots. I'd drive to Lincoln for a direct flight to some of the second or third tier airports in places that currently take 1-2 stops.

 

[Seaofred92]

Seems like the move would be for Lincoln to create some flights to destinations that aren't available direct from Omaha - especially vacation type spots. I'd drive to Lincoln for a direct flight to some of the second or third tier airports in places that currently take 1-2 stops.

Breeze is almost certainly going to add a few more routes, they are notorious for doing that once they add one in a city

I can pretty easily envision RDU, CHS, and maybe TPA being added, especially as the winter months get closer and would fit the criteria you outlined above

Interestingly, the top 5 ending destinations without a direct flight from LNK per the LJS in 2024 were, in order:

1. PHX
2. DFW
3. LAS
4. LAX
5. MCO

That may also give us an indication of what is to come… American has hubs in Phoenix and Dallas. Could they add flights there and Breeze adds LAX and LAS in addition to MCO?

United operates 10 flights a day from LNK currently, with 5 each to ORD and DEN. Maybe AA comes in in 2026 or 2027 with an additional 4 flights sending 2 each to PHX and DFW, and possibly a 5th to CLT to better connect LNK with the East Coast as there isn’t any option there currently. AA also operates a hub at ORD but with 5 United flights there daily I don’t see the need for them to take them on on that route.