It seems like every other US airport has a "what's new" thread, so let's make one for OKC.

Some points to start:

1. 2017 had nearly four million passengers https://flyokc.com/2017-passenger-traffic-sets-all-time-record
2. When is construction expected to start on the new east gates? Who will occupy them?
3. Any chance of upguages or new service this year?

It makes me feel so old, thinking back to the old concourses with the 1980s mirror ceilings and DL/EV EMB120s to Atlanta and a UA 733 just down the hall, as I'd wait across the way for my WN 732 to MCI.

ViaAir begins 4x weekly to AUS in March
Frontier begins 4x weekly to SAN in April
American begins daily to PHX in April
American begins 2x daily to PHL in June

I believe the terminal and concourse expansion goes out to bid in April. Likely a 2 year construction. No idea on who will use the gates. I could see AA moving there to be closer to the main terminal and not out on he concourse. Just a hunch.

I'd like to see AS upgauge to mainline on SEA. Route has been running 80-90%+ since it had started nearly 3 years ago.

ViaAir is starting service to AUS March 1, originally supposed to start January 18th. I wonder what happened, I think it was 4x weekly and now is 3x weekly.

Haha, let's see if us OKCers can keep this thing going.

I bet F9 expands service and takes on Allegiant in the leisure markets.

Would love to see AA upgauge or expand OKC-ORD but that doesn't seem to be on the cards.

Go Thunder!

I'm still waiting for OKC to actually launch some MCO and DCA n/s flights...DCA was promised before the Wright Amendment was lifted and never started...MCO was weekend only from time to time...and now F9 has moved in on that (with G4 service to SFB). A BNA option would be nice too...and OAK (to offer some competition to UA out of SFO on fares).

If the east concourse gets built, I bet it'll end up being a ULCC area, as they seem to be the only ones really jumping into OKC recently (other than AA).

I connected on OKC once last year and wondered why WN doesn't fly OKC-Florida nonstop outside of seasonal MCO. A daily n/s to MCO TPA or FLL should be able to work.

Its a nice modern terminal though with a down-home feel. The oil wells on property were unique and added to the appeal.

Is the SkyWest maintenance base going to open this summer?

Would like to see BNA-OKC

LOWS wrote:

Is the SkyWest maintenance base going to open this summer?

The SkyWest facility is well under construction, I drove by on Tuesday and it looks like all of the support structure is up and they are starting to add the outer shell.


I could definitely see the ULCCs moving to the new East area and AA taking over the two(?) open use gates that G4 and F9 use. Does AS have a permanent gate now?

When will OKC see international flights?

9w748capt wrote:

Haha, let's see if us OKCers can keep this thing going.

I bet F9 expands service and takes on Allegiant in the leisure markets.

Would love to see AA upgauge or expand OKC-ORD but that doesn't seem to be on the cards.

Go Thunder!

I'd really like to see OKC-ORD get upgauged as well. TUL is currently getting Envoy E75's and it would be nice to see the CR7's go away. Kind of the main reason I avoiding connecting through ORD when going back to OKC. I'll be interested to see if AA goes back to 4x daily to ORD and 3x to CLT during the summer or if the two new PHL flights will take their place. Either way, I'm really liking how AA is growing OKC.

AWACSooner wrote:

I'm still waiting for OKC to actually launch some MCO and DCA n/s flights...DCA was promised before the Wright Amendment was lifted and never started...MCO was weekend only from time to time...and now F9 has moved in on that (with G4 service to SFB). A BNA option would be nice too...and OAK (to offer some competition to UA out of SFO on fares).

If the east concourse gets built, I bet it'll end up being a ULCC area, as they seem to be the only ones really jumping into OKC recently (other than AA).

Would love to see a DCA flight as well. I'm not sure how LIT was able to get an E75 on AA before OKC but with most anything regarding DCA, I'm sure it was somehow political...

I'm really interested to see they went ahead with the second concourse... I'm not sure who they think is going to fill it unless they can convince the ULCC's to come in and really build up a base. Would be nice to see some international flights even if it is on Frontier or Allegiant. While I don't care for there business models, it's always nice to see air service grow. OKC as a whole has done a nice job growing, just need the state government to quit screwing around and get things back on track. It's tough living in DC now and looking in at all the problems (not like DC doesn't have its own...), but a part of me is glad to not be living there right now.

Ziyulu wrote:

When will OKC see international flights?

When Allegiant starts flying international.

Regarding ULCC:

1) G4 doesn't lease a gate, so they will likely stay put at Gate 1 and rent on a turn for turn basis just as they currently do.

2) I doubt F9 cares enough to move from Gate 12 to the newer section.

Alaska has always leased Gate 2 since they started. They never rented or borrowed.

OKCDCA wrote:

9w748capt wrote:

Haha, let's see if us OKCers can keep this thing going.

I bet F9 expands service and takes on Allegiant in the leisure markets.

Would love to see AA upgauge or expand OKC-ORD but that doesn't seem to be on the cards.

Go Thunder!

I'd really like to see OKC-ORD get upgauged as well. TUL is currently getting Envoy E75's and it would be nice to see the CR7's go away. Kind of the main reason I avoiding connecting through ORD when going back to OKC. I'll be interested to see if AA goes back to 4x daily to ORD and 3x to CLT during the summer or if the two new PHL flights will take their place. Either way, I'm really liking how AA is growing OKC.

AWACSooner wrote:

I'm still waiting for OKC to actually launch some MCO and DCA n/s flights...DCA was promised before the Wright Amendment was lifted and never started...MCO was weekend only from time to time...and now F9 has moved in on that (with G4 service to SFB). A BNA option would be nice too...and OAK (to offer some competition to UA out of SFO on fares).

If the east concourse gets built, I bet it'll end up being a ULCC area, as they seem to be the only ones really jumping into OKC recently (other than AA).

Would love to see a DCA flight as well. I'm not sure how LIT was able to get an E75 on AA before OKC but with most anything regarding DCA, I'm sure it was somehow political...

I'm really interested to see they went ahead with the second concourse... I'm not sure who they think is going to fill it unless they can convince the ULCC's to come in and really build up a base. Would be nice to see some international flights even if it is on Frontier or Allegiant. While I don't care for there business models, it's always nice to see air service grow. OKC as a whole has done a nice job growing, just need the state government to quit screwing around and get things back on track. It's tough living in DC now and looking in at all the problems (not like DC doesn't have its own...), but a part of me is glad to not be living there right now.

For clarification, they are not proceeding with the full concourse buildout. It is a 4 gate extension mirroring the west to some effect. In the future, it can be expanded by 5 more gates. So really only a gain of 4 gates, with 1 being able to handle international arrivals with FIS facility.

The decision to proceed has been a long standing plan where the trigger was when the airport was down to 1 unleased gate, to automatically trigger the 4 gate expansion.

william wrote:

Ziyulu wrote:

When will OKC see international flights?

When Allegiant starts flying international.

AC? to YYZ

Midwestindy wrote:

william wrote:

Ziyulu wrote:

When will OKC see international flights?

When Allegiant starts flying international.

AC? to YYZ

My guess will be the Mexico and parts of the Caribbean. Places like Cancun/Cozumel are a given.

Midwestindy wrote:

william wrote:

Ziyulu wrote:

When will OKC see international flights?

When Allegiant starts flying international.

AC? to YYZ

In terms of Canada, your best bets would probably be YCG or YEG for the oil market connections. I know some people who would prefer YCG for the access to skiing in Banff as well.

Well, having a FIS gate (or two) would be a great start for that addition...because we always get a crapton of diverts from DFW when the lightning starts striking within 500 miles of that airport.

OKCDCA wrote:

Midwestindy wrote:

william wrote:

When Allegiant starts flying international.

AC? to YYZ

In terms of Canada, your best bets would probably be YCG or YEG for the oil market connections. I know some people who would prefer YCG for the access to skiing in Banff as well.

I was meaning to ask if any of the fossil fuel companies have interests in Alberta or Saskatchewan. What about WestJet to YYC?

LOWS wrote:

I was meaning to ask if any of the fossil fuel companies have interests in Alberta or Saskatchewan. What about WestJet to YYC?

I meant to put YYC, got in a hurry and crossed up my codes. But yes, Devon Energy has their second HQ in Calgary and I'm sure there are probably some more connections.

I (and I'm sure Alaska Airlines does as well) hope that someday they will have more than one destination out of OKC. I'm quite sure they don't like having destination cities that see service to only SEA; and they have quite a few of those. LAX and SFO are prolly the most viable possibilities but I have no idea when, if ever, it could happen.

SAN might stand a remote chance but the traffic in the market is kind of iffy, around 60-70 PDEW -- right on the verge of being viable on the EMJ. (I don't think much about the sub-daily F9 service in the market as a deterrent since it probably won't last long.) I would love to see AAG fly between OKC and SAN but I'm not holding my breath.

bb

LOWS wrote:

OKCDCA wrote:

Midwestindy wrote:

AC? to YYZ

In terms of Canada, your best bets would probably be YCG or YEG for the oil market connections. I know some people who would prefer YCG for the access to skiing in Banff as well.

I was meaning to ask if any of the fossil fuel companies have interests in Alberta or Saskatchewan. What about WestJet to YYC?

Despite the oil connections, I can't imagine OKC-YYC has the numbers to justify such a route, especially with the behemoth DFW nearby. Flying to/from Canada is incredibly expensive in any case.

AWACSooner wrote:

Well, having a FIS gate (or two) would be a great start for that addition...because we always get a crapton of diverts from DFW when the lightning starts striking within 500 miles of that airport.

It is a crazy sight seeing multiple 777s on the ground here - must be a shock to those from Tokyo lol.

I'm not sure a FIS gate changes anything though, as I'm sure AA's goal is to get any diversion here on it's way to DFW ASAP. Even if they let the passengers disembark and clear immigrations/customs here, AA would be faced with the nightmare of reaccomodating them.

It seems like AS cycles MX planes through OKC pretty quickly. Every day there seems to be a different plane parked outside the MRO they use.

I don't know if there is any demand for a second IAD flight? I use the morning UA IAD flight a lot, but an early afternoon flight that's slightly better timed for European connections. The morning flight (I'm usually on it 2-3 times a month, both connection and O&D) always seems pretty full. Obviously no indication of yield etc.

LOWS wrote:

I don't know if there is any demand for a second IAD flight? I use the morning UA IAD flight a lot, but an early afternoon flight that's slightly better timed for European connections. The morning flight (I'm usually on it 2-3 times a month, both connection and O&D) always seems pretty full. Obviously no indication of yield etc.

Since UA already serves the market, would they not have doubled up on the service if the traffic was there? I would expect 'yes' and that there isn't enough business in the city pair ...yet. I would bet they handle some fluctuations in the traffic with different sized aircraft on the single flight, which is lots cheaper than stating a second frequency.

Just my thoughts.

bb

How many unique destinations are served from IAD that are not served from Chicago or Newark? I feel as if Chicago is better connecting City for international and domestic destinations ... at least 9 months of the year (winter is a bit scary from a planning perspective)

SANFan wrote:

LOWS wrote:

I don't know if there is any demand for a second IAD flight? I use the morning UA IAD flight a lot, but an early afternoon flight that's slightly better timed for European connections. The morning flight (I'm usually on it 2-3 times a month, both connection and O&D) always seems pretty full. Obviously no indication of yield etc.

Since UA already serves the market, would they not have doubled up on the service if the traffic was there? I would expect 'yes' and that there isn't enough business in the city pair ...yet. I would bet they handle some fluctuations in the traffic with different sized aircraft on the single flight, which is lots cheaper than stating a second frequency.

Just my thoughts.

bb

It took AA forever and then some to add additional OKC-LAX frequencies after they started and have floated between 2-3 flights daily since they added flights.

jplatts wrote:

WN could add a 2nd nonstop in each direction between OKC and MDW as it is unusual for WN to do only 1 daily nonstop in each direction from MDW to a market the size of OKC. In addition, there are destinations east of MDW that are not served nonstop from OKC, including IND, CVG, CMH, CLE, PIT, BOS, LGA, and DCA, and WN adding a 2nd nonstop in each direction between OKC and MDW would make it easier to connect to SWA destinations in the Eastern U.S. from OKC.

Forget adding 2nd, WN doesn't even have a single non-stop flight to MDW anymore. They do have a direct, 1 stop no plane change, flight though.

LOWS wrote:

I don't know if there is any demand for a second IAD flight? I use the morning UA IAD flight a lot, but an early afternoon flight that's slightly better timed for European connections. The morning flight (I'm usually on it 2-3 times a month, both connection and O&D) always seems pretty full. Obviously no indication of yield etc.

Good question - it'll be interesting to see how AA does on OKC-PHL given they're jumping right in with 2x/day. I wonder if it'll go down to daily after the summer.

I'm guessing any europe-bound traffic that UA carries is more than adequately served by ORD and IAH.

b777erj145 wrote:

jplatts wrote:

WN could add a 2nd nonstop in each direction between OKC and MDW as it is unusual for WN to do only 1 daily nonstop in each direction from MDW to a market the size of OKC. In addition, there are destinations east of MDW that are not served nonstop from OKC, including IND, CVG, CMH, CLE, PIT, BOS, LGA, and DCA, and WN adding a 2nd nonstop in each direction between OKC and MDW would make it easier to connect to SWA destinations in the Eastern U.S. from OKC.

Forget adding 2nd, WN doesn't even have a single non-stop flight to MDW anymore. They do have a direct, 1 stop no plane change, flight though.

It must have been a suspension due to the fleet abruptly shrinking with the 300's. Daily nonstop OKC-MDW resumes March 8.

Sancho99504 wrote:

It took AA forever and then some to add additional OKC-LAX frequencies after they started and have floated between 2-3 flights daily since they added flights.

I'm guessing UA just wasn't getting what it needed from the OKC-LAX run? Or had a better use for that CR7/175?

Also, from the ViaAir thread, it looks like they've pushed back their launch to Austin until April.

LOWS wrote:

I'm guessing UA just wasn't getting what it needed from the OKC-LAX run? Or had a better use for that CR7/175?

Is there a chance they were cannibalizing themselves with the SFO flight in terms of having redundant connections at both LAX and SFO and the SFO flight eventually won out?

LOWS wrote:

Also, from the ViaAir thread, it looks like they've pushed back their launch to Austin until April.

I'll be interested to see if this even gets off the ground at this rate.

OKCDCA wrote:

LOWS wrote:

I'm guessing UA just wasn't getting what it needed from the OKC-LAX run? Or had a better use for that CR7/175?

Is there a chance they were cannibalizing themselves with the SFO flight in terms of having redundant connections at both LAX and SFO and the SFO flight eventually won out?

LOWS wrote:

Also, from the ViaAir thread, it looks like they've pushed back their launch to Austin until April.

I'll be interested to see if this even gets off the ground at this rate.

It's hard to tell what the reason is. OKC seems very temperamental compared to TUL, which isn't that far away and isn't much smaller. We will see what happens this summer when AA is running 1x OKC-PHX and 2x OKC-LAX, maybe PHX won't cannibalize LAX.

My guess is that LAX fair's better on LAX than UA because AS has been committed to the market for 15 years.

Is OKC looking to attract WOW or maybe even Norwegian by adding an international gate? Or just G4 to Mexico?

http://www.news9.com/story/37532426/oklahoma-city-airport-prepares-for-international-flights

LOWS wrote:

Is OKC looking to attract WOW or maybe even Norwegian by adding an international gate? Or just G4 to Mexico?

http://www.news9.com/story/37532426/oklahoma-city-airport-prepares-for-international-flights

I'd imagine it would be G4 or F9 to Mexico. I doubt you'll ever see OKC-Europe non-stop, even at 1x weekly service...

Speaking of F9, I was really surprised to not see OKC gain anything with the recent new route additions. And regarding G4, what routes are they planning on operating this summer, I try to keep up with the weekly OAG changes but G4 is so erratic I can't keep up.

in AUG WN drops to 3xdaily OKC-DAL. That is a surprise!

RJNUT wrote:

in AUG WN drops to 3xdaily OKC-DAL. That is a surprise!

Not really, WN has been pretty neglectful of OKC over the last few years. MDW, MCI and ATL flights got cut, DCA was never started even though they seemed to elude that it would and really no new attempts at any new service, specifically FLL or BNA. But WN's track record of profitability speaks for itself so I'm sure if they thought there was opportunity they would do it.

OKCDCA wrote:

RJNUT wrote:

in AUG WN drops to 3xdaily OKC-DAL. That is a surprise!

Not really, WN has been pretty neglectful of OKC over the last few years. MDW, MCI and ATL flights got cut, DCA was never started even though they seemed to elude that it would and really no new attempts at any new service, specifically FLL or BNA. But WN's track record of profitability speaks for itself so I'm sure if they thought there was opportunity they would do it.

Since Wright Amendment has been lifted WN will neglect OKC in regional market I believe. They will continue to expand DAL and to do that they will have to cut flights from somewhere because DAL cant expand

OKCDCA wrote:

LOWS wrote:

Is OKC looking to attract WOW or maybe even Norwegian by adding an international gate? Or just G4 to Mexico?

http://www.news9.com/story/37532426/oklahoma-city-airport-prepares-for-international-flights

I'd imagine it would be G4 or F9 to Mexico. I doubt you'll ever see OKC-Europe non-stop, even at 1x weekly service...

It will be interesting to see what happens. OMA had OMA-CUN lined up with NW in 2006 and CBP basically told the airport they wouldn't staff it even if a FIS facility was built. Similarly, LGB within the past couple of years had B6 wanting to fly to multiple destinations, but wasn't guaranteed CPB staffing either.

MrNuke wrote:

OKCDCA wrote:

LOWS wrote:

Is OKC looking to attract WOW or maybe even Norwegian by adding an international gate? Or just G4 to Mexico?

http://www.news9.com/story/37532426/oklahoma-city-airport-prepares-for-international-flights

I'd imagine it would be G4 or F9 to Mexico. I doubt you'll ever see OKC-Europe non-stop, even at 1x weekly service...

It will be interesting to see what happens. OMA had OMA-CUN lined up with NW in 2006 and CBP basically told the airport they wouldn't staff it even if a FIS facility was built. Similarly, LGB within the past couple of years had B6 wanting to fly to multiple destinations, but wasn't guaranteed CPB staffing either.

OKC already has a CBP office on-site on the north side of the airport. Now I'm not sure what kind of capabilities that office has nor if anybody in there could do clearance related duties but the presence of an office might help the cause.

SANFan wrote:

SAN might stand a remote chance but the traffic in the market is kind of iffy, around 60-70 PDEW -- right on the verge of being viable on the EMJ.

Don't forget traffic will be stimulated by a non-stop service and of course even more so depending on whether the fares are lower than 1-stop options.

Is Delta doing CR9 and 752 maintenance in OKC now? I've noticed a couple random ones, eg. BDL and unscheduled CR9s from MSP.

Slightly OT, but why does OKC have so much more service than TUL?

I always try to make a quick afternoon side trip to a secondary US airport when in the US on business. Managed BUF/SAV/MCI/CLE/PIT/SAN/RDU/BNA/AUS/TOL/LGB. This time I thought OKC and a ride on the MD-80 with AA. Some great fares for a lunchtime departure/back late afternoon. Settled into my seat 7A for the hour ride to OKC. Late arrival delay/fuelling delay/ramp evacuation due thunderstorm meant I would arrive after my return departed. Then my return posted a delay, but I offloaded myself. Took the shuttle back to the hotel and saw both flights cancelled.
Some other time OKC - sadly as I was looking forward to the ride and the visit.
Good luck

DDR wrote:

Slightly OT, but why does OKC have so much more service than TUL?

OKC is quite simply a much larger city than Tulsa. Tulsa's latest metro population (MSA) estimate is 961,000 while Oklahoma City metro (MSA) is 1.37 million. That's a difference of 412,000 people. Oklahoma City metro population is also growing nearly at 10% while Tulsa is growing at 5%.

More people and more jobs, just more people traveling.

jetmatt777 wrote:

DDR wrote:

Slightly OT, but why does OKC have so much more service than TUL?

OKC is quite simply a much larger city than Tulsa. Tulsa's latest metro population (MSA) estimate is 961,000 while Oklahoma City metro (MSA) is 1.37 million. That's a difference of 412,000 people. Oklahoma City metro population is also growing nearly at 10% while Tulsa is growing at 5%.

More people and more jobs, just more people traveling.

Thanks much for the answer. I always wondered what the difference was between the two cities. Makes sense with such a larger population that OKC would have more air service.