Crews at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield were busy putting the final touches on a new terminal Thursday morning. Come next week, a section of gates in the South Terminal will open to the public as the first phase in a $950 million renovation.
The Wednesday opening will give passengers their first look at new gates in the updated terminal. The space includes new seating, additional charging stations, larger restrooms, mother’s rooms and family restrooms.
A lot of thought went into those bathrooms, said Steve McCoy, Omaha Airport Authority chief strategy officer.
“With this program, we’re actually tripling the number of restroom fixtures across the terminal,” McCoy said. “We’re making larger restrooms, and we’re making it so you have access to multiple restrooms.”
To reach the new gates, South Terminal passengers will proceed through security as usual and follow signs for Gates A1, A1A, A1B and A2.
Wednesday’s gate openings are just the beginning in a multi-year Build OMA Terminal Modernization Program. In late November, the first of several new airport concessions will also open for passengers using the South Terminal.
In early 2027, a new Central Pavilion and additional portions of the modernized concourse will open. At that time, additional new concessions will begin opening, along with an airport lounge and a centralized security checkpoint. Construction will continue through 2028 as the Omaha Airport Authority completes the remaining phases of the program, including the addition of international flights.
The updates will help meet the needs of a growing community, McCoy said. He estimates the airport saw about four million passengers a year in the early 2000s. Today, Eppley Airfield sees about 5.3 million annual visitors.
“This airport grows when the community grows,” McCoy said. “So, as jobs are added, there’s discretionary income. The businesses grow. There’s a lot of dynamic things happening in the community. We see it here at the airport, and the airlines see it as well.”
There’s still “significant work ahead,” said Dave Roth, chief executive officer of the Omaha Airport Authority. Passengers should continue to expect construction impacts and changes to how they navigate the airport, including closures to some terminal entrance doors, as work progresses.
“While there is still significant work ahead, this upcoming opening represents an important first step in transforming the passenger experience at (Eppley Airfield),” Roth said.
