Lincoln Airport officials say the launch of American Airlines service is exceeding expectations. Airport Marketing Director Rachel Barth says the inaugural flights on Thursday were completely full, with both arriving and departing passengers filling every seat.
Airport leaders will meet with American Airlines representatives next week to review early booking trends. Barth says one of the key indicators of success is seeing flights consistently operate at 70 to 90 percent capacity. She notes Lincoln’s existing United Airlines flights regularly achieve occupancy rates above 90 percent.
The addition of American Airlines, along with new Breeze Airways service, is expected to drive unprecedented growth at Lincoln Airport. Barth says passenger capacity could increase by as much as 65 to 80 percent this year, a level of growth rarely seen at airports serving communities the size of Lincoln.
She credits recent terminal improvements for helping position the airport for expansion. Barth says American Airlines and its ground handling partner praised Lincoln’s facilities, customer service, and operational readiness during the launch.
Meanwhile, airport officials are also highlighting progress on the major Runway 1836 reconstruction project. Barth says years of planning and funding efforts are now paying off as construction continues on one of the airport’s largest infrastructure investments.
Airport officials also plan to increase passenger surveys in the coming months as traffic grows and new air service options become established.
(Photo: Lincoln Airport Facebook)