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Allegiant dropping Lincoln flights to Las Vegas

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BY MATT OLBERDING / Lincoln Journal Star

Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 - 05:33:37 pm CDT

September is shaping up to be a cruel month for the Lincoln Airport.

Low-cost leisure carrier Allegiant Air announced Wednesday that it will end flights from Lincoln to Las Vegas Sept. 4 and move them to Grand Island’s Central Nebraska Regional Airport.

Also Wednesday, United Airlines confirmed that it will end one of its daily departures from Lincoln to Denver on Sept. 1.

Story Photo
Baggage is handled as an Allegiant flight stops in Lincoln. The carrier announced Wednesday that it will end flights from Lincoln to Las Vegas Sept. 4. (LJS file)

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Allegiant blamed high fuel costs and “competitive influences” as its reasons for ending its twice-weekly Lincoln service, which began in February 2006.

Allegiant spokeswoman Tyri Squyres said low-cost competition from Omaha’s Eppley Airfield, especially from Southwest Airlines, “put a lot of pressure on our fares.”

“There were a good number of people flying with us, but the fares were not where they needed to be,” she said.

Lincoln Airport Executive Director John Wood said Allegiant planes flying out of Lincoln  have been more than 90 percent full over the past several months, but even with those numbers, the airline said it’s been losing money flying from here.

“They’ve been filling the airplanes, but apparently they’ve been doing it below cost,” he said.

Wood said he thinks Allegiant is going to give Grand Island a try to see if the greater distance from a major airport such as Omaha’s will allow it to charge higher fares.

In a news release, Allegiant said it would be contacting customers with reservations for Sept. 4 or later and offering them the option of flying out of Grand Island or receiving  a full refund.

The airline’s Grand Island flights will be on Thursdays and Sundays, the same days as the Lincoln flights.

Allegiant, which is one of the few U.S. airlines to remain profitable in the face of skyrocketing fuel prices, has been the lone bright spot at the Lincoln Airport.

Through the end of June, Allegiant’s passenger numbers were up 8 percent compared with the same period in 2007. During the same six months, passenger numbers have dropped 9 percent overall at the airport.

Allegiant has grown its passenger base steadily in Lincoln despite not expanding from its original two-flights a week schedule.

It flew nearly 20,000 passengers in 2006 and more than 26,000 in 2007.

Squyres said Lincoln has always been an iffy market for Allegiant because of the nearby competition from Omaha. She said the airline was able to fly profitably from Lincoln when fuel prices were reasonable, but the recent price spike, “made the decision for us” to end the route.

United’s cut is part of a larger systemwide cut in capacity, which is also due to soaring fuel costs, said Jeff Kovick, a United spokesman.

The airline had added the fourth Denver flight at the end of March.

Reach Matt Olberding at 473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.


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Vern wrote on July 30, 2008 10:23 am:
" I don't know how the Lincoln airport, and I say airport lightly, stays in business. Small, inefficient, a joke. "

 how they stay in business wrote on July 30, 2008 10:34 am:
" They make their money off the industrial park, pretty sad though when in other news articles the airport authority pretty much admits that is their bread and butter so flights are almost a sideline item for them. I regularly fly out of Omaha and KC and even considering extra drive time, parking, and everything else it's still cheaper to fly from there. Convenience is worth something, but not double the price of the ticket.

Plus if you ever miss a connecting flight, have one cancelled, etc. you're absolutely out of luck because it will be at least the next day before you can find any way back to Lincoln. "

 Dennis Mohatt wrote on July 30, 2008 10:37 am:
" I fly out of Lincoln almost every week for work. I find the airport to be an excellent facility...and I see a lot of them. I save time and money not having to drive to Omaha, the cost of parking is a fraction of the cost at Eppley, and everyone I from the TSA to the airline employees are more courteous and helpful. Whoever thinks the Lincoln airport is less, simply does not travel enough to know what a benefit this facility is to our community. Could it be better, sure, what business could not improve. However, I choose to fly to and from LNK and I am very happy with my choice.2 "

 no lincoln airport for me... wrote on July 30, 2008 10:41 am:
" Last time I flew out of Lincoln, I was totally disgusted at the way the Lincoln airport (particularly the TSA employees) handle themselves. It will a long time before I fly again and I'll drive to Omaha to avoid the Lincoln airport. "

 Matt wrote on July 30, 2008 10:41 am:
" Wow, you know things are bad when you can't even keep a flight to Vegas open. "

 JT wrote on July 30, 2008 10:45 am:
" There goes the only reason to fly out of Lincoln, shucks. "

 Vinny Vegas wrote on July 30, 2008 11:01 am:
" Dont be surprised to see Allegiant start flying out of Omaha. Maybe the Omaha airport will offer more days to fly to Vegas than Lincoln could. Lincoln Allegiant flights to Vegas only flew leaving on Thursday and returning Monday or leaving Monday and returning Thursday. Only time will tell. "

 lisa wrote on July 30, 2008 11:02 am:
" I have chosen to pay a little more and fly out of LNK over OMA for the convenience of it. I really hope this isn't a trend. "

 JJJ wrote on July 30, 2008 11:12 am:
" The Airport Authority can spend more money to advertise flying out of Lincoln. We need to get airlines to have flights. Build it and they come. "

 And the ecomomy isnt bad wrote on July 30, 2008 11:14 am:
" this is really a big loss for Lincoln. It was nice to have at least this as a cheaper way to get out of Lincoln. "

 KW wrote on July 30, 2008 11:16 am:
" I would gladly pay an extra $50 to fly out of Lincoln. Raise your rates a bit, not an issue for me. I'll spend that much on gas and parking in Omaha. Its more convenient for me to fly from Lincoln. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DON'T TAKE LAS VEGAS AWAY FROM US!!! "

 I Dont wrote on July 30, 2008 11:18 am:
" know how lincoln airport plans on surviving. The city is in trouble now, wait until the airport only has propeller driven airplanes flying out. It seems to me the city has shunned chances to have money brought in. For example, someone wanted to put in a dragstrip, I doubt if it would have brought in the millions some have said it would, but, seems like anything could help. Just saw on TV that a town called Marshfield Mo is getting a major racetrack. A huge developer is asking and the town is jumping for joy about the chance to have large tax fund. I also saw that Obama is visiting the town of Springfield, Mo then onto smaller towns of Rolla and a tiny town of Union. There is a springfield and union nebraska, why didn't he pick them instead? When is he coming to nebraska or will he? Maybe he has heard about the neocon republicans and thinks whats the use they wouldn't believe him anyway. He's probably right. "

 Facts wrote on July 30, 2008 11:24 am:
" Well, it looks like the days of cheap flights for ANY Nebraskans to Vegas are over. The "competition" Allegiant was referring to is Southwest out of Eppley. They kept their fares artificially low to compete with Allegiant (as people could drive either way to fly to Vegas if they wanted to). Now that Allegiant has pulled out because they couldn't compete with those low fares (mostly due to some smart fuel-price hedging by Southwest management), watch for Southwest to raise their fares out of Eppley to Vegas by quite a bit, since there won't be any competition for them anymore. Too bad... :( "

 JB wrote on July 30, 2008 11:27 am:
" I would always prefer to fly out of Lincoln, but that option is getting less all the time. I remember growing up when Lincoln had both United and Frontier. My family went to the old airport a couple times a month to pick up my Dad. I probably have been to Omaha's airport more times now. "

 lINCOLN LIFER wrote on July 30, 2008 11:31 am:
" First the State fair and now the Allegiant air service to Las Vegas. Lincoln airport director John Woods says,"It's due to jet fuel prices." Is jet fuel cheaper in G.I.? Hmmm? I believe there's deeper issues at the Lincoln airport! "

 Super wrote on July 30, 2008 11:38 am:
" And now what are those of us with November flights on Allegiant from Lincoln to Vegas supposed to do?! Wonderful. "

 Sven Olie wrote on July 30, 2008 11:45 am:
" "Small, inefficient, a joke." That's partly wrong, and really makes no sense.

I fly into Lincoln several times a year from MSP. Small, yes. But small does not construe inefficiency...large airports (ORD? MSP?) are a real pain: long TSA check-in procedures and long waits for checked-in luggage. You folks in Lincoln are lucky that you still have airline service (Terre Haute? GRI?)! "

 VG wrote on July 30, 2008 12:06 pm:
" what the hell is going on in Lincoln, they lost this to Grand Island, come on Lincoln what else are you going to loose, Northwest, United, might as well shut down the airport. I loved this airlines I used it many times. Allegiant spokesman was noted to say that Lincoln passengers were very good to them, so that makes me think of only one thing is goning on and that is Lincoln airport is not making it possible for them to stay... good job.. "

 Mark wrote on July 30, 2008 12:08 pm:
" There's more to this story... like the part about Allegiant moving these flights to Grand Island. GI scores again! "

 LNK is great wrote on July 30, 2008 12:09 pm:
" I will always fly out of Lincoln if I have the option. It is far more convienient than Omaha and the size is perfect. It does not take hours to check-in and get through security. "

 TOO wrote on July 30, 2008 12:09 pm:
" Sorry folks not Omaha, GI of all places you know the new place that everything is going to. the fair the football team, basketball (they can have), airlines. Let's just shut down Lincoln and move everything west. "

 smart flyers recognize a good deal... wrote on July 30, 2008 12:17 pm:
" i used to always check omaha flights first because i had the perception that lincoln was so much more expensive. its really not true, the bulk of flights to places like denver, chicago, nyc, minneapolis, etc. are only about $40-$50 more in my experience. with gas costs, additional 2.5 hrs drive time, and the parking costs - that cost differential is SO WORTH IT! i now travel out of lincoln far more than omaha - whenever i can make it work. i am disappointed to see them lose this flight, and you can count on southwest's vegas fare from omaha to increase as a result of this... "

 Dale wrote on July 30, 2008 12:21 pm:
" September 4th is the day that Allegiant begins Two-day-a-week air service to Vegas from Grand Island. Each way fares are $79 for a month, then rise to $99. It's a case of Lincoln being too close to Eppley.
BTW, GI gets KCI essential air service back via Great Lakes within the next couple of months. GI should have never tried to get connecting flights to Omaha a couple of years ago and should have stayed fat and happy with their 3x daily Denver roundtrips along with a regional service base for Great Lakes. "

 Dan wrote on July 30, 2008 12:23 pm:
" Now how in the hell am I going to get to Las Vegas now? I sure as hell am not going to drive in that God forsaken city of Omaha to go. This is a travesty. "

 GOO wrote on July 30, 2008 12:27 pm:
" competitive influences what competitive influences. Southwest out of Omaha goes to LV at twice the price, and that does not even include a hotel room. The BS flag is up on this one. GI come on, you really think that there will be the passenger base needed to keep this airlines around. LNK is messing up a good thing. Allegiant could have been a relly good thing here. they could have even expanded their services to places such as orlando. "

 Bush Hater wrote on July 30, 2008 12:37 pm:
" Some comments like small inefficeint a joke shows just how much a joke some of these comments are, made by people that do not have a clue.
LNK is easier to get through security, easier parking, no delays in landing/ taking off. More expensive? Not really. Add up time, fuel and grief and I will fly from LNK everytime over Epply. "

 Sultrydayinne wrote on July 30, 2008 12:39 pm:
" Too bad a few years ago Lincoln and Omaha refused to work together to create a regional airport. It is just too prohibitive to fly out of Lincoln it is next to impossible to connect. I am happy some people can fly out of Lincoln the vast majority can't. "

 Andy D wrote on July 30, 2008 12:41 pm:
" The Lincoln airport is a joke and Eppley can't build any more. There needs to be an international airport in between Lincoln and Omaha. There is more than enough space, and the chance for profit is there. Do it to it. "

 LNKisgr wrote on July 30, 2008 12:51 pm:
" I just flew out of lincoln to New York and it was 200 dollars cheaper than omaha and I flew with a number of people from omaha that had actually driven down to fly out of lincoln instead of omaha, it so to easy to get on the planes and everybody moves things along very quickly it is so much better than any "big time, efficient airport" where you have to wait in long lines and feel like a herd of cattle "

 Travel Agent wrote on July 30, 2008 1:04 pm:
" So just wondering if Mr. Wood is banging his head against a wall yet? I would love for him to make public what several of us already know in what the Lincoln airport gate fees are as well as the costs the airport specifically passes onto the airlines to operate service for our community. Given that information and the obvious that we absolutely have a supply and demand issue in Lincoln vs what Omaha has, why is it any wonder that we have such poor air service? This isn't rocket science folks. Typically fares today are at a difference of $200-$300 a ticket to fly from Lincoln vs Omaha and why is that? The airlines know that Lincoln is just a supplemental market for them and that they can not at this point sustain profitable operations to what they know they can get continually time and time again from Omaha and KC. At best, a handful of markets are competative flying from Lincoln, however the majority of time they are no where close. Most corporate businesses are not supporting the Lincoln airport when there are fare differences of $200 or more. To have an employee expense mileage to Omaha and parking costs that generally doesn't exceed $100 why wouldn't they have employees fly from Omaha? As far as your leisure and family travelers, if they can save upwards of $200-$1000 in total costs to fly from Omaha, the majority of them always will! It of course is more preferred to those of us who live and work in Lincoln to be able to fly from Lincoln, however the reality is this is basic Business 101 people...you can't attract great things to a community when it's poorly facilitated, the costs are too high and we don't have a continous pool of consumers that will sustain it. I think Mr. Wood can understand this, I mean, geez, just ask him where our Lincoln - Memphis service went? "

 IFR wrote on July 30, 2008 1:18 pm:
" can GRI even handle a MD-80, runway length at GRI 7002', MD-80 needs approx 7,200' for take off and 4,800 for landing. GRI tower is only open until 2000 what if there is bad weather, can they do IFR landings there. count me out. LKN messed up "

 jetfueljockey wrote on July 30, 2008 1:26 pm:
" Jet fuel Jet A Grand Island 5.76
Jet fuel Jet A Lincoln 6.60 and I am sure Duncan's pumping

It's a great airport for biz jet, turboprop, and flight instruction
Great simple layout

Lincoln and Lincoln Airport Authority are becoming 250,000 low rent cities with few opportunities. I know flight schools that have left there but that is an insurance issue and not necessarily an airport issue.

But it is time Lincoln improves or gets someone in that old money town to do something "

 Roger wrote on July 30, 2008 1:30 pm:
" I don't mind paying $50 more for flying out of Lincoln, but not double the air-fare. The "inefficient" comment is just plain stupid. Yeah, I'd rather spend time in lines at O'Hare. "

 Nina wrote on July 30, 2008 1:31 pm:
" We flew Allegiant to Las Vegas in March of '06 on a free trip. It was nice, and I was glad I got to see fabulous, glittering Vegas- its downtown light show was the best. But truthfully, it made me sick at heart to see more money than I ever dreamed possible thrown around at the high limits areas. I kept seeing in my mind pictures of starving children and mission medical clinics. So now that I've been there and seen it, no need to go back. We can play our penny slots in Council Bluffs and still keep up our mission giving. But I imagine without Allegiant, Lincoln will be like a ghost airport. "

 Josh wrote on July 30, 2008 1:31 pm:
" OK, some people at some times are finding good deals for flying out of Lincoln- and that's great. However, my wife and I fly a lot, and are always checking fares- we always check Lincoln, Omaha, and even Kansas City. Most of the time, LNK is MUCH more expensive- meaning a flight that may be $150 from Omaha is literally $300 from Lincoln. And parking in Omaha or even Kansas City is not much more than Lincoln- for long term parking you only pay around $6.50 to $7.50 per day in those places. the ONLY benefit to flying out of LNK is the convenience of not having to drive as far to get to the airport. "

 Chicago wrote on July 30, 2008 1:47 pm:
" I quit flying into LNK when they went to RJ service. Those are the first flights to get cut. Watch the United board at ORD some time. Lincoln, Springfield, Cedar Rapids, Madison, Sioux City... those are the flights that get cancelled first, be it weather or flow control. "

 Rob wrote on July 30, 2008 1:52 pm:
" I have been flying my son in and out of LNK four times a year for 4 years. Yes it generally costs me about $100 more than Omaha but i also know my minor son is getting taken care of very well. They have always been the best airport I have ever gone through and I have NEVER had any problems with the airport, the employees, or the airplane being delayed here in LNK. I will never have a problem paying $100 more to make sure my son is taken care of, not having to drive to Omaha and the security waits and airline delays. The one time I sent him from Omaha he sat at the end of the runway for 2 1/2 hrs and we were never given any explaination why. I will choose Lincoln for as long as it is running!!! "

 Tom wrote on July 30, 2008 2:01 pm:
" Lincoln wouldn't have much of an airport if it wasn't for the tarmak. It was built in WW2 and is HUGE with very solid concrete, built to the Federal Government standards. It also is longer than most airports, which is why it is an alternate site for the Space Shuttle. Because Omaha is so close, I'm surprised United and Northwest continue to offer service. Other airports cover a larger driving distance. Take Atlanta for example. From the opposite side of Atlanta, you have to drive almost 3 hours to the airport. No complaints, thats how it is. With Omaha being so close, I'm surprised the Lincoln airport is able to keep carriers. I agree that Omaha and Lincoln should build a regional airport. Make it easy to get into and out. The Omaha airport is actually in Iowa. Maybe we'd like it in our state. Thanks to those employees that have kept the Lincoln airport going. "

 You can still fly to Vegas wrote on July 30, 2008 2:23 pm:
" from Lincoln, every day in fact. You just have to change planes in Denver or Minneapolis. "

 mike bowman wrote on July 30, 2008 2:23 pm:
" I come "home" once a year for a Husker game and always book my flights at least 30 days in advance. I used to fly into Lincoln or Omaha from Fort Walton Beach Florida but for some unknown reason to fly into Lincoln the cost went from 380.00 to 1200 and into Omaha it wnet from 400.00 to 1100.00. I now fly directly into KCI for 275.00, and drive the 2.5 hours. I always have to rent a car so it is a no-brainer to fly into KCI. Lincoln and Omaha airports is just not worth my business. "

 wow wrote on July 30, 2008 2:37 pm:
" Holy smokes they lost out to Grand Island? Now that really says something right there.

I guess without those flights perhaps they can shut down one of those TSA inspection lines? Never understood why they needed two fully rigged and staffed inspection lines each serving a separate gate when other airports have one line serving twenty or thirty gates with many many more flights at each one than Lincoln has. "

 Lets Go wrote on July 30, 2008 2:51 pm:
" Let's start a petition to keep the fair, errrr, I mean flights, in Lincoln! "

 Is it me wrote on July 30, 2008 2:54 pm:
" is it me or does every political subdivison in this city lack credibility? Wasn't it just a month ago there was a story in this paper about the amazing growth at Lincoln's airport? Then we read that the growth was for one airline and it was loosing money.However overall fare's are down 9%.Who can believe anything that slides down the pike of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce,the city council or the Mayor' office?
At what point do the voters start demanding the truth and electing people willing to take the chance to tell us the same? "

 Mike in DC wrote on July 30, 2008 3:20 pm:
" LNK needs dailies to Dallas or Houston, Phoenix, San Fran or LA, and an East Coast city; NOT Vegas. Part of the Vision has to include these buisness and airport hubs. Even in the internet digital age, these connections are crucial, and not having connections to major hubs like Dallas (American) and Phoenix (Southwest and USAir) hurts. Think of the options! Imagine not having to fly through DEN, ORD, or MPS in the winter. And San Fran? Uh, the biotech and silicon valleys? Why would anyone want to go there for business? "

 julia wrote on July 30, 2008 3:39 pm:
" And to think that a couple of decades ago Lincoln and Omaha could have combined resources with a first class airport being built between the cities. But no, the business communities of both cities nixed the plan. To hell with the consumers. "

 Aviation school grad wrote on July 30, 2008 3:57 pm:
" You don't just build an airport. It costs billions of dollars and takes decades to plan. You have to go through all sorts of regulatory hurdles, figure out who is going to run it, find people to sell their land or take it away from them. Appease those who live around the new airport. Etc. Etc. Suffice it to say that Omaha and Lincoln just build a regional airport is ignorance run rampant. That will never happen, as good as it may sound. "

 Brian in Lincoln wrote on July 30, 2008 4:26 pm:
" I fly quite a bit for work. The last few trips I have taken, the prices out of Lincoln were roughly double than those out of Omaha. It is 1 hour to get to Omaha, and this will be reduced when I-80 is done. I have never had a long wait in the TSA or check in lines and have been treated the same by people at both airports. Yes, parking is more expensive, but when I am paying $500 to fly to Spokane, WA vs $1000, the 2 hours of driving (total) and the $100 to park, I am CLEARLY saving $300-400 for my drive. ECON 101 tells me this is the smart thing to do, even on the company dollar. Until the people running the Lincoln airport start catering to the PEOPLE of lincoln, this will not change. "

 Jim wrote on July 30, 2008 4:31 pm:
" Lincoln's airport is embarrassing! 2 gates..A & B....for a city as big as it is, it needs more than 2 gates and no airlines serving it. People laugh when they land at the Lincoln MUNICIPAL airport.... "

 vegas hangover wrote on July 30, 2008 4:51 pm:
" Nothing like having to drive an hour after your Vegas hangover, thats always fun. "

 two things wrote on July 30, 2008 4:53 pm:
" 1. Please everyone, and the Journal Star who approves these entries: Watch your language. Heck gets your point across just as well as He##.

2. For minors, the only guarantee you have of them being taken care of properly is to pay the airline their unaccompanied minor fee (usually $100 each way). The fact that the son sat on the end of the runway for 2 1/2 hours has absolutely nothing to do with the airport, more than likely mechanical problems or air traffic control at the connecting airport. Sure, the UM fee wouldn't prevent this, but at least your son would have been taken care of by the airline. "

 boowood wrote on July 30, 2008 4:55 pm:
" John Wood thank you for running yet another airline out of the Lincoln
Airport. The gate fees and all of the other fees you pass on to the airline make it impossible for them to stay. Lincoln sends TSA and ground crew to help with the planes in GI now what are they going to do? Remember Lincoln when voting for you airport authorities how John Wood wants Lincoln to close. "

 Lincoln Losers wrote on July 30, 2008 4:59 pm:
" We loose the fair to grand island now this airline... do people understand this is money leaving our community? No wonder the city and LES's budget is in trouble and jobs (like LJS) are being cut!!! Do you people understand basic economics? "

 David in Boston wrote on July 30, 2008 5:06 pm:
" Tom, Eppley is in Nebraska. You do drive (briefly) through Iowa.

The Airport Authority is between a rock and a hard place. Close proximity to a larger airport and rising fuel costs making profitabilty difficult. I think the Airport Authority could do more to get money from the City of Lincoln and Lancaster County to help lower landing fees. Not having freqent flights is a big drawback for companies in Lincoln already or thinking of moving to Lincoln.

I don't blame Allegent for moving to Grand Island. It makes sense to get it away from Eppley and capture mid-state passengers and a lower airport landing fee.

There is a more compelling story here about Lincoln's place in the state and its future. Is Lincoln just a satellite to Omaha or does it look to the rural west? Where does it fit in? In some ways is Lincoln not also between a rock and a hard place? "

 DF wrote on July 30, 2008 6:14 pm:
" I fly to Providence RI several times a year and it is consistently $100 a
ticket more expensive out of Lincoln than Omaha and has been for several years.Plus, the layover at ORD is only an hour out of OMA vs 3-4 hours out of LNK. Haven't flown from LNK since before 9/11. Pre- 9/11 prices were about the same,now buying 3 tix at $100 more a ticket makes it worth the drive to OMA. "

 whatever wrote on July 30, 2008 7:52 pm:
" Another example of how the shear growth and size of Omaha's economy and infrastructure simply hammers Lincoln. And Lincoln wants to build an ill thought out arena?(I've said what I have said regarding how Lincoln should approach the Arena idea, but Lincoln seems to be heading in completely the wrong direction). At any rate I would suggest Lincoln begin a serious dialogue with Omaha regarding a regional airport. I know it's something that is on the "board" for down the road, but at the rate of Lincoln's decline in importance "down the road" will mean Omaha will just move as it sees fit and Lincoln will just need to cope with it. In some respects it would make sense for Omaha to reach a deal with a regional airport with Council Bluffs and Bellevue rather than Lincoln. By the way Kudos to G.I. you got the State Fair and now you have taken some of Lincoln's airline business. Great Job! "

 Brandon wrote on July 30, 2008 8:43 pm:
" Well, obviously Omaha's airport is that much better than Lincoln's...that's why Lincoln struggles. However, it doesn't make sense for Omaha to share an airport with Lincoln. Omaha already has the region's airport, and it's just minutes from downtown. I'm sure companies like Gallup love its current location. Berkshire shareholders probably wouldn't be too thrilled to fly into the middle of nowhere and have to drive 45 minutes to downtown. "

 FAIR wrote on July 30, 2008 9:18 pm:
" I am sure this has something to do with the fair movig to GI as well. Maybe the Universoty wants to expand the second phase of Innovation Park so that it includes the runways at Lincoln Airport "

 Roger wrote on July 30, 2008 11:53 pm:
" Contrary to the opinion of "whatever" this illustrates why we DO NEED an arena, and modern entertainment amenities. New entertainment=attract more businesses=keep and attract young professionals=draw in more business=increased airport traffic.

This commences todays economic lesson, and you're welcome. "

 Doesnt pass the smell test wrote on July 31, 2008 12:35 am:
" Business's hate competition. It's a plane, it can land anywhere. It makes sense to land it someplace else and charge more to do the same thing.

But on the other hand: I think people would of been plenty happy to pay more to have the service stay.

So, something doesn't really make sense. "

 just me wrote on July 31, 2008 3:53 am:
" Lincolns' Airport is, and has been for YEARS, a HUGE JOKE!

As for me. I gave up flying YEARS ago. I tired VERY early
on to being treated like cattle. Herded in to an airplane,
no legroom, stuffy atmosphere, and usually rude attendants.

I take Amtrak whenever possible. LOTS of legroom, great
food, and the employees have been more than helpful on most
occasions.

This may take longer to get to a destination. But, if
you're on a vacation, it's like having a "mini-vacation"
while on board.

For business travel, I simply plan things a little further
ahead so I can travel this way.

People should try this more often. Amtrak goes to a lot of
the major cities anyway. And, if you're traveling on the
east coast, most trains are scheduled 3 or 4 times a day. "

 Cynic wrote on July 31, 2008 7:59 am:
" Listen closely and you can hear a lonesome bugle northwest of Lincoln playing "Taps" for the Lincoln Airport. Supply and demand. This is a REAL economics lesson. "

 mitchy_v wrote on July 31, 2008 9:14 am:
" If we had casinos here (in Nebraska) we wouldn't have to worry about losing the flights. "

 Does this really surprise anyone wrote on July 31, 2008 10:06 am:
" I mean really? With the price of jet fuel and the price of tickets overall going up why wouldn't this happen. Maybe they will pick up Midwest Express! But they are cutting back too. Im guessing the Lincoln airport won't be open too much longer, they will just have it for commercial use. I wouldn't be surprised in the near future if they start cutting some Omaha flights too. "

 Brian in Lincoln wrote on July 31, 2008 11:27 am:
" FOR YEARS, the Lincoln Airport has been treated as the long forgotten air force base that it used to be. The people running the airport don't care at all about commercial traffic ( you know the municipal part of the name) they would rather have all the helicopters and tankers flying around Lincoln at all times of the day and night as this brings in money from the govt ! Do they care that commercial service is lousy? Not one bit. They want to have touch and go's taking place until that is the only plane you will see in Lincoln. Changes are needed, and fast. "

 Jim in CT wrote on July 31, 2008 12:54 pm:
" I used to live in Lincoln and return a few times a year from Hartford. I remember the good 'ole days when I flew into Lincoln on larger planes at rates that were very close to the rates into Omaha. I too think a number of factors are leading to this, but it sure is sad to see how many airlines and seats into Lincoln have gone "poof". I'm not sure of the solution, but would somebody please forward this thread to the airlines?
A regional airport between Lincoln and Omaha would be great, but other people who have posted here have got it right: Omaha is a forward-thinking city that has been in the national spotlight recently, and with big projects in the works, will continue to be. Somehow, I don't think the powers-that-be in Omaha are thinking much of Lincoln...unless of course the Husker football team gets good again. I consistently find fares into Omaha from Hartord to be at least $100-$150 r/t cheaper than into Lincoln. "

 and..... wrote on July 31, 2008 2:43 pm:
" the downfall of Lincoln begins. Gosh and people want to build an arena. We won't even have an airport in a year! "

 Ron wrote on July 31, 2008 7:43 pm:
" When I budget travel, I always include an extra night at a hotel if I'm considering flying out of Lincoln. But missing connecting flights and wasting time in an airport hotel is something that I cannot afford to do, so I usually opt for Eppley just for the security of knowing that there is far more service to Omaha. "

 JJ wrote on July 31, 2008 9:30 pm:
" Wow. I suddenly have the urge to fly to Vegas. Oh well "

 Former Lincolnite wrote on August 2, 2008 11:03 am:
" Since April 2007, I have flew Allegiant on 10+ flights. I have never been unhappy with them and often recommend this airline to others. I am very disappointed that Allegiant has discontinued their service to Lincoln. While I am glad that they will at least be flying into Grand Island, it will be a big inconvenience getting to Lincoln now.

I am very disappointed that Allegiant has decided to discontinue service when I have ALREADY purchased a ticket into LINCOLN after September 1st. No thanks, Allegiant, I do NOT want to fly into Grand Island. The ticket I purchased is to LINCOLN. Within a day before they made this announcement, you could still purchase a ticket to Lincoln AFTER September 1st! "

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