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Local view: Support your local airport

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BY CHRIS HOVE

Wednesday, Aug 06, 2008 - 12:56:25 am CDT

It’s terribly disappointing to hear that Allegiant Airlines has decided to discontinue flight operations out of Lincoln. Although load factors (passenger levels) have been strong, ticket sales are extremely elastic so a slight increase in ticket price sends passengers to alternative travel options.

Despite these challenges, we are still blessed to have dependable, steady service from United Airlines and Northwest Airlines who provide 12 commercial flights each day to four major hub airports throughout the country.

The Lincoln community has a significant challenge ahead. As a city of nearly 250,000, we should be able to support a regional airport with numerous commercial flights each day to many destinations. All things being equal, most people would prefer to fly out of Lincoln. The Lincoln airport is extremely convenient and accessible.

Story Photo
Chris Hove

The simple fact is every consumer looks at the cost of flying out of Lincoln and the perceived cost of flying out of an alternate airport and consciously decides which is the better value for them. Taking into consideration the costs of driving, mileage, time, parking, etc., many people are choosing Omaha these days.

Not withstanding, the Lincoln Airport is financially strong, viable and successful. United and Northwest continue to provide excellent commercial air service. The airport has strong relationships with the National Guard as well as Duncan Aviation and other local airport businesses. General aviation continues to be strong and growing and the Industrial Park continues to attract new business.

As a community we should not accept losing airline traffic to other communities. The Airport Authority needs to consider new and innovative ways of expanding and attracting air service. However, the community needs to be involved in this challenge as well.

I want to challenge each of you, as you are making reservations for flights to look at the cost difference between Lincoln and other options. Don’t simply check Omaha and assume it’s cheaper. Fairly consider the additional cost of flying out of each airport. Each of us makes an individual decision based on whether we believe the cost benefit is acceptable.

But it is important that you always, at the very least, compare and consider all the costs of traveling from one point to another. If you are not comparing, then we at the Lincoln Airport are failing. Many low cost airfare opportunities are highlighted on our Web site: www.lincolnairport.com

We will continue to look at various ideas for expanding traffic at the Lincoln Airport as well as consider ways to attract more airlines to Lincoln. I simply ask you to always consider the Lincoln Airport. I hope someday the attitude for flying out of Lincoln changes. I pledge to you that the staff at the Lincoln Airport will always be courteous and professional.

Commercial Airline companies make decisions on which airports to fly in and out of based on demand. If there is demand to fly out of Lincoln, the airlines will come.

Chris Hove is chairman of the Lincoln Airport Authority board of directors.


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brian in lincoln wrote on August 6, 2008 10:25 am:
" When the airport in Lincoln starts to cater to the people of Lincoln and not the air national guard, you may have a deal. The constant noise of the air guard is the only traffic you can see at the lincoln MUNICIPAL airport. If the airport would cater to the people and not the military, you may have a viable option. "

 hh wrote on August 6, 2008 10:26 am:
" My daughter is flying in from North Carolina to visit me. She paid $208 for her ticket to Omaha. She wanted to fly into Lincoln but it would have cost her $100 more. So--- support your local airport-- I think NOT "

 Support Local Business Travelers wrote on August 6, 2008 11:24 am:
" As a frequent flyer, I cherish every opportunity I have to use the Lincoln airport. It's convenient and saves so much time. I encourage the Lincoln Airport to work with local businesses to establish incentives to use the Lincoln Airport. Driving more traffic at the Lincoln Airport will ultimately drive more business in Lincoln.
I assure you, I only drive to the Omaha airport when absolutely neccesary. "

 Planner wrote on August 6, 2008 12:27 pm:
" I am a federal government agency travel coordinator. Our employees in Lincoln would rather fly out of Lincoln; however, 90% of the time, taking into consideration the cost of mileage, etc., is is cheaper to fly out of Omaha. There are a lot of federal employees in Lincoln. It would behoove the airlines to set up federal contract fares out of Lincoln instead of just Omaha. "

 Greg wrote on August 6, 2008 12:45 pm:
" When you do your price comparison, make sure to factor in an extra night at an airport hotel, or at the very least, the cost of a shuttle form Omaha if you fly out of Lincoln. If you miss a flight later in the day, chances are you will not be able to get back the same day. It's happened to me many times, so I still consider Lincoln but make sure I have a little more padding when I travel. "

 cost wrote on August 6, 2008 12:57 pm:
" I agree that I would rather fly out of Lincoln but it is too cost prohibitive to do so. Omaha also has more options and, even with mileage added in, is cheaper. Too bad but that is reality. "

 to hh wrote on August 6, 2008 1:10 pm:
" only $100?! I would pay that in a heart beat soley for conveinence. $308 from N.C. to Lincoln is a STEAL! You figure you spend half that on gas and parking so why wouldn't you? "

 Logical choice is Omaha wrote on August 6, 2008 1:56 pm:
" My wife and I are fling to New York in September
United flies from both Omaha to Chicago, and Lincoln to Chicago.
Then regardless of what city we start from, we hope on the same Chicago flight to La Guardia.
I checked prices from both cities, it is almost $90 a ticket more to fly out of Lincoln, and so that is $180 extra for both of us.
Parking is the same price at both airports (in the far lots). Gas at $4 / gallon is $20 extra for a round trip drive to Eppley. I will be flying out of Omaha to save $160

Now I absolutely love fling out of LNK, it is fast, convenient, parking is close buy, and security is quick. I easily save 2 ½ hours when you figure driving to Omaha, shuttles from parking garage, and extra security and check in time. However do the math, $160 for 2 ½ hours of time spent traveling to Omaha, that is over $60 an hour. I have to choose Eppley.

Since you are on the airport board, please do all you can to get carriers to lower there fares out of Lincoln so they are more completive because I REALLY WANT TO FLY OUT OF LINCOLNM INSTEAD, but it does not make fiscal sense even when you factor in time and money spent driving to Omaha. "

 It does vary wrote on August 6, 2008 2:33 pm:
" Raleigh to Lincoln mid-October is $250 while Raleigh to Omaha is $200. I doubt $50 would be enough to justify driving to Omaha.

I think the big issue is number of flights. Omaha has more and the chances of something messing up coming to Lincoln is increased. It's sad to see Lincoln struggle, and I'd try to fly out of Lincoln if I flew. But, the airlines as a whole have messed up my plans one too many times, and I've given up on them. Four dollar gas or not...the car is so much nicer! "

 Chris wrote on August 6, 2008 2:51 pm:
" The grim reality is the airlines are short on aircraft, and Lincoln happens to be in one of those markets that is the first to lose. I love Lincoln, I love flying out of Lincoln; but the cold hard fact is Omaha has more flights, more convienent times, cheaper fares, and more destinations.

Instead of driving up to Omaha, however, I use OMALiNK. They are always running and also offer private Town Car service, just like in the bigger cities. It is better to work or talk on the phone with a driver taking care of you. It is way cheaper than what is costs for a tank of gas and parking (not to mention lost time). "

 Tim wrote on August 6, 2008 3:29 pm:
" The last 3 times I flew out of Lincoln, on the return trip, the plane had mechanical problems and was delayed at my 'stopover' airport.

If they had not been able to repair it and the flight had been cancelled, there was no later flight into Lincoln. This actually did happen to my wife once and I had to pick her up in Omaha.

The options in Lincoln are just not good enough, and I'm not going to risk my trip to support a business that does not meet my needs. "

 Outside the Box wrote on August 6, 2008 5:05 pm:
" Mr. Hove - Hopefully you're seeing the pattern here: Lincoln residents would like to fly out of Lincoln but prices tend to be higher and the options are fewer.

Maybe instead of competing with Omaha on the same flights (a battle LNK will typically lose) you could look into routes that Omaha doesn't offer. Direct flights to the coasts, regional flights to non-hubs, i.e. things OMA doesn't offer. Find the niches that allow LNK to thrive. "

 just a question wrote on August 6, 2008 8:54 pm:
" What is so much cheaper or appealing in GI than Lincoln that ALlegiant jumped ship and moved 100 miles west? What is it, can you be honest with us? If you try to add it up, you just don't get it to figure out. Southwest to LAS from OMA have been over $250 roundtrip for a long time now, so what is the real reason? "

 Laura wrote on August 7, 2008 8:29 am:
" For me, it's not a matter of price, but of the necessity to get where I want to go. Hove writes that we're "blessed to have dependable steady service" which I do not agree with. Needing to travel to Florida, I booked my flight out of Lincoln only to get a plane with mechanical problems...3 hours later my flight is cancelled and I have no other option to get to work the next day in Florida. Had I flown from Omaha, the airline could have put me on one of 8 other carriers to get me to my destination. Coming home to Lincoln from Denver on United's 8:30 p.m. flight -- twice in the same week that flight was cancelled-once because a plane couldn't get to Denver to take us to Lincoln and the other time because we didn't have a crew. Fortunately, each time I was able to get on a flight to Omaha, rent a car and drive home at 1:30 a.m. Why wouldn't I simply fly in and out of Omaha in the first place? Sure, I'd like the convenience of LNK, but until the airlines make a commitment to be here, it's not worth the extra stress! "

 to just a question wrote on August 7, 2008 9:36 am:
" they moved because they knew they would pull lots of people from the west instead of having people who live in Lincoln choosing to go to Omaha instead. Pretty basic thought. "

 Gassy wrote on August 7, 2008 10:17 am:
" Combine a few hundred thousand people in Central and western Nebraska who would prefer to drive the much shorter distance to GI with free, close in parking, with the fact that it's a lot cheaper for Allegiant to operate in and refuel in GI. Last I checked online, jet A fuel was nearly a full dollar a gallon cheaper in GI than in Lincoln.
Face it, folks in the tri-cities, clear out to North Platte, or McCook, or Broken Bow, if given the choice of Lincoln or Omaha to fly out of for a trip to Vegas, or most places... way most of them will and do choose Omaha. As pointed out above, many in Lincoln and surrounding towns do to. In GI, they'll put butts in seats and combined with the lower costs of doing business plus the ability to charge a little bit more without sacrificing market share, they'll do just fine. "

 Locke wrote on August 7, 2008 10:34 am:
" Two things: First, the federal government does have a contract fare to Lincoln. I used that fare several times last year. As such, federal employees could easily fly out of Lincoln if they wanted to.
Second, I no longer fly out of Lincoln, not because of cost but because I want to make sure that I get to my destination in a timely manner. I can not count the number of times I have missed important meetings because of cancelled flights going into or out of Lincoln. Omaha has its shared of cancelled flights, but they are fewer and their are alternatives for airlines to put you on.
If Lincoln had more reliable service, I would use it. "

 soccermom wrote on August 7, 2008 10:57 am:
" Actually the last to flights I had to book I did from Lincoln because it was cheaper than Omaha. "

 Lou Brown wrote on August 7, 2008 11:05 am:
" 4 adults are flying to Chigago. Total cost from Omaha is approx $600 including gas to drive there and back, and a 4 day charge in long term parking.
Same deal from Lincoln is approx $860. $260 is a huge difference and will buy a lot of Chicago Pizza and beverages.
That $60 difference in price may be OK for solo passengers, but for couples and families, it really adds up.
And the one hour drive to Omaha means you leave an hour earlier. You don't need to spend a night in an Omaha hotel just to catch a flight. "

 why wrote on August 7, 2008 11:25 am:
" They were at 90+% full each flight, so why do they think they are going to do the same in a smaller population base? That is what does not make sense. If they were flying planes that were half full, yes, try something else. But, they were close to capacity every time ! That is what does not make sense....... "

 just give it a chance wrote on August 7, 2008 1:22 pm:
" I've had my fair share of trouble at LNK with delayed/canceled flights (mostly due to the black hole that is O'Hare). That said, I'll ALWAYS check both Lincoln and Omaha flights. Maybe Omaha will win 80-90% of the time, but it takes 2 minutes to check Lincoln flights and, as so many others have already said, I'd much rather fly out of Lincoln. So thanks, Mr. Hove, for doing your best to keep commercial travel an option in Lincoln. "

 Thats why wrote on August 7, 2008 3:41 pm:
" To answer "WHY's" question:
Sure, they were at 90% full in Lincoln. But it costs a lot more to fly into and out of Lincoln than it does in Grand Island. And no, Grand Island isn't a smaller population base. It's a smaller city. It'll draw from York to North Platte and down to Kansas. I'd say 300,000 or more population base that would and could use the GI airport for these flights.
Check the post above about jet fuel prices in Lincoln. I don't know how much fuel they'd use in a round trip, but I'd bet they'd save several hundred dollars each flight by flying into GI and refueling there at a buck a gallon difference. "

 Former Omahan wrote on August 7, 2008 4:29 pm:
" I've never understood the attitude that if someone from Lincoln or anywhere in outstate Nebraska buys something in Omaha, or flys from the Omaha airport it is a crime. What did Omaha do to the rest of Nebraska to warrant such an attitude? Is it the huge percentage of Omahans that attend Husker games? Perhaps its the tax dollars that Omaha sends to the Legislature? Maybe its the 20% of the turnback dollars that the Qwest Center sends to the rest of Nebraska for their arenas? Or, maybe, just maybe, it's jealousy because Omaha is so much bigger?

I don't know, but it sure appears childish to me. "

 I wish wrote on August 7, 2008 8:42 pm:
" After having moved to Lincoln in the past year, I wish I could fly out of the Lincoln airport but find that flights home to Arizona (or anywhere else I travel too) are often over $300 more than Omaha with a direct 2.5 hour flight rather than the 6 to 7 hour ordeal it is to fly out of Lincoln. Both times I flew in and out of Lincoln, I was delayed at least 3 hours adding to an already long trip. "

 whatever wrote on August 8, 2008 1:57 pm:
" Essentially the airline industry is broken and on the decline. Airline travel for most is a luxury. Alternative means of transportation like passenger rail service should be redeveloped. The naysayers and those without vision will pooh, pooh the idea as not practical. But if done right you can have efficient and fast service that would serve most passengers needs. Of courae it will cost money to rebuild infrastructure, but for a state like Nebraska it could have profoundly positive impacts on the economy by providing "at your doorstep" service to the "outside world". My God we did this in the 1800's I think we can do it now. "

 Sorry... wrote on August 8, 2008 11:31 pm:
" I would love to fly in and out of Lincoln rather than Omaha. I don't even like Omaha. But recently I compared prices for a round trip ticket to Phoenix. The ticket I paid for, out of Omaha, cost $250.
The same ticket out of Lincoln cost $500.
$500 ... !!!
This is a huge ripoff. If it was a difference of $50 or $100, that would be one thing. There is absolutely no excuse for that ticket to cost twice as much. "

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