OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – More than half a million.

That’s how many travelers the Omaha Airport Authority said flew in and out this past June, breaking the record set just a month before in May.

“It’s a busy time for travel here at Eppley Airfield,” said Chief Strategy Officer Steve McCoy. “Summer 2024, we’re seeing record activity. Just last month in June, we set an all-time monthly high for passenger traffic here.”

McCoy said there are a number of factors: it being the summer travel season, the College World Series, and more flight options offered at Eppley this year.

“Just compared to June of last year, it’s 10 percent higher, in terms of airline capacity,” he said. “That’s the number of seats, flights, in and out of this community. So it’s providing a great opportunity for travelers here in Omaha to make trips during the summer months, but then also for folks to visit Omaha for events such as the College World Series.”

The record surge is happening while Eppley is working on two construction projects. One is the terminal modernization program, which includes more gates, rebuilt runways, and a unified concourse. The other is the terminal drive and canopy project, to enhance pick-up and drop off capacity and safety.

McCoy admits it has been a bit congested because of that work.

“While there may be some minor inconveniences, we really do appreciate that travelers are bearing with us as we go through this because in the end, we’re going to have a experience that’s much more enhanced and provide for streamlined opportunities, and a better travel experience well into the future.”

McCoy said some of the larger crowds are because of the bounce back from the pandemic. But the airport authority still expected growth in 2024 as both the community and air travel grows.

Based on what they’re seeing, will Eppley be able to handle future demand when the projects are done? McCoy confidently said yes.

“The facility is being constructed in a way that, if we need to continue to grow—we need to add on more square footage, we need to add on more gates for more airlines—then we have the opportunity to do that with the future terminal,” he said. “We don’t have that with the existing terminal.”

Travelers can learn more about Eppley’s expansion and modernization plan on Build Omaha.

Copyright 2024 WOWT. All rights reserved.