Omaha to Renovate Airport

Yesterday, I wrote that I thought that Omaha's airport needed a renovation badly. I even suggested asking for the renovation as part of the approval of Keystone Pipeline. Knowing Congress, a new airport would be granted in seconds is Nebraska to drop its opposition to the pipeline,. Not a renovation, a brand new internation airport and possible space portal. 

Well, reader Clay, a Nebraskan, sent me this article from Omaha.com. The Omaha Airport Authority last week approved a plan to be submitted to the FAA, which would:

"The plan would consolidate Eppley's baggage claim areas, ticket counters and security checkpoints, add a new parking garage to the north of the existing garage, which would itself be renovated, and expand and renovate the airport's north and south concourses, adding eight aircraft gates to the current 20."

The plan which has three phases would cost $750 million ($1.2 Billion with inflation). The phases will only occur if the airport hits a target annual passenger level:

Baseline projects

 

• New parking garage north of the existing facility with 2,000 public parking stalls and 1,000 rental car stalls.
• Renovation of the existing garage, with improved signage, lighting, paint and guardrails.
• Checkpoint and curbfront improvements.

First phase (This phase would kick in when the airport reaches 4.8 million annual passengers.)

 

•  Moving and replacing the facility's central utility plant.
•  Phase one expansion of the north concourse.
•  New de-icing pad for aircraft.
•  Information technology infrastructure.
•  Maintenance facility expansion.

Second phase (5.4 million annual passengers)

 

•  Expansion and renovation of the existing terminal, including consolidation of the ticketing counters, security checkpoints and baggage claim areas.
•  Increase in checkpoint security lanes from six to 10.
•  Runway and taxiway reconstructions.

Third phase (7 million annual passengers)

 

• North and south concourse expansion, adding eight aircraft gates to the current 20.
• Expansion of the new north parking garage.
• New aircraft waste disposal building.
• North and south overnight aircraft parking.
•  Expansion of the south economy parking lot.
•  Fire station renovation.

The airport has about 4 million passenger annually. Therefore, phase one could start within a few years.

The cost of the airport will be paid for by FAA grants, airport revenue, bonds and new passenger and customer facility charges. The passenger facility charge — set at a maximum of $4.50 per passenger by the FAA — would be implemented as a fee for passengers by the airlines.

 

The master plan submitted to the FAA is a 20 year plan. 20 YEARS! By that time, the airport is going to be even more out dated than it currently it is.

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