Omaha's Eppley Airfield to Undergo $950M Expansion, Renovation

Nebraska’s largest airport, Eppley Airfield will undergo $950 million expansion, renovation by 2028.

The Omaha Airport Authority has announced that Eppley Airfield will undergo a $950 million expansion, renovation project, scheduled to be completed by 2028. The Omaha Airport Authority recently unveiled a modernization program, which will involve, new entrance, spacious boarding gates, an expanded baggage claim area, a unified passenger concourse, enhanced dining and more shopping options, and an impressive glass-domed entrance.

Eppley Airfield's entrance is undergoing a revitalization, featuring an enhanced and more accessible design, along with upgraded signage to create a more pleasant welcome experience for travelers. — *Eppley Airfield’s entrance is undergoing a revitalization, featuring an enhanced and more accessible design, along with upgraded signage to create a more pleasant welcome experience for travelers.*

*Terminal Drive & Canopy Project, Expected to be complete by Spring 2025*

Terminal Expansion

The Eppley Airfield is planning to undergo an expansion increasing its terminal size to 646,000 square feet. This expansion represents a 72% increase compared to its size of 375,000 feet. As part of the expansion the airport will also add two gates. Create a customs area in preparation, for potential future international flights.

“We’re, in the process of revitalizing Eppley Airfield” stated Dave Roth, the CEO of the airport authority. “Every corner of the terminal is being. Improved upon.”

When will construction start on Eppley Airport renovation project?

The construction will commence in weeks and is slated for completion by 2028. However, certain sections of the terminal will be accessible to travelers, before that timeline.

Omaha’s Eppley Airfield expansion and renovation won’t come cheap. The expenses have significantly increased since the estimate, in 2022 which was $600 million. According to Roth, the earlier estimate was actually from 2013. The current price accounts, for inflation that has impacted the construction sector over time including pandemic construction and labor costs.

Roth mentioned that the growth is fueled by the increasing number of individuals utilizing Espley’s services. In 2023 passenger volume again approached the milestone of 5 million coming close, to the peak travel numbers seen in 2018. The number of travelers declined significantly to 2.1 million in 2020 due to the restrictions, on travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“After the COVID situation improved we began to see the figures,” he remarked.

During a meeting, on Tuesday morning the board of directors of the Omaha Airport Authority gave their approval to the plans taking into account the increased costs.

Funding for Eppley Airfield Renovations

According to Roth, the Eppley Airfield expansion and renovation project is being financed through fees paid by airport users rather than taxes. The authority has approved the issuance of bonds that will be repaid using funds obtained from airport concessions, parking fees, passenger facility charges contributions, from the Transportation Security Administration, and support, from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The terminal project represents the stage of a 30-year plan to renovate Eppley Airport entirely. The period, from 1998 to 2018 primarily concentrated on the airfield reconstruction encompassing the renovation of three runways, taxiways, and the apron along, with infrastructure improvements.

After that, the Eppley airport management shifted its focus, towards the needs of passengers as mentioned by Roth. The year 2019 witnessed the inauguration of a parking facility on the side comprising four levels, for public parking and an additional two levels dedicated to rental cars. Additionally, modifications were made to reconfigure the layout of the garage.

In 2022 they opened an improved road leading to the airport entrance. This road now connects the long-term parking area and the cell phone lot directly to the terminal.

Construction on an all-weather canopy to cover the drive began in June as part of a two-year project. The cost of this project amounted to $65 million. Additionally in November workers started constructing a power plant $92 million that will generate electricity, for airport buildings.