I'm wondering about one thing - that article mentioned a "public observation gallery." If that is true, that's the most exciting news I've heard in a long time.

Yes, the top level on the new east wing.

Awesome! Hope the it will be open to all of the general public and not just ticketed passengers like some times happens in these situations.

Awesome! Hope the it will be open to all of the general public and not just ticketed passengers like some times happens in these situations.

It will be open to the general public and the access will be from outside of the secure area. Anyone who goes there would have to go back to the security check points to get to the area for ticketed passengers.

Delta and United both operate clubs here in Portland, and both are widely used.

PDX is a hub for Alaska, however is a spoke for United (UA-OKC serves more destinations than UA-PDX by the way). The United Club does very good business here despite nearly zero connecting traffic. The clubs, even if run at a loss, are to cater to loyal flyers. Many offer showers, which is a big amenity for business travelers. Many use their club privileges to access the showers after arriving, to freshen up for a meeting in the city. Or a quiet place to relax away from everyone else.

They are in hubs because hubs carry every single loyal flyer, they are also in large spokes which have heavy business traffic. They are not mutually exclusive ideas.

A club in OKC would not do well for any carrier, as there is just not a lot of premium demand to justify one. Even if it runs at a loss, an airline would add a club if it added overall value to the network as a whole. For example, if Southwest was stealing all of the business traffic to Houston (which they are not), United may invest in a club in OKC at an operating loss to grab a contract for more flying. It's an amenity, and in some markets is a loss-leader. The network of clubs is profitable, even though one location may not be.

With that said, I wouldn't expect any clubs to be opening in OKC anytime soon. AA is the only carrier with enough market loyalty and FF-base to even possibly consider one.

I'm wondering about one thing - that article mentioned a "public observation gallery." If that is true, that's the most exciting news I've heard in a long time.

Yes, if it's built as planned it looks like it will be an observation gallery that over looks the ramp, runways, etc as well as the interior terminal. It also appears that it will double as a guest waiting area. Someone posted a rendering a few pages back that wasn't included in the NewsOK video.

Yes, if it's built as planned it looks like it will be an observation gallery that over looks the ramp, runways, etc as well as the interior terminal. It also appears that it will double as a guest waiting area. Someone posted a rendering a few pages back that wasn't included in the NewsOK video.

I think the older video link was a live stream for the city's TV channel, which has quit replaying the meeting, the presentation was released for on demand viewing at http://www.okc.gov/AgendaPub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=2999&doctype=AGENDA

The portion with the observation deck starts around 18:37, one note with Chrome and Firefox having recently pulled support for the plugin style that windows media uses, Internet Explorer is the only browser I am sure it will play in.

Just watch it on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/JYuq22YlhUM?t=52s

The tunnel project is one fix away from being complete. The metal trim over the video wall needs to be reconstructed. Trying to get final acceptance on October Trust Meeting. Glad you like the signage. It has helped people get their bearings much quicker in the tunnel.

We have a Delta lounge in Jacksonville and we aren't a hub for any airline. I love that JIA is the first thing many visitors to Jax see.

folks, the lounge doesn't need to be airline specific; wrwa could just have an airport lounge - something akin to the Plaza Premium Lounges (https://www.plaza-network.com/location_detail?airport=Vancouver%20International% 20Airport&city=Vancouver) in Vancouver, where those airports have the Premium in addition to airline specific lounges with the premium charging a fee to use. Yes, I know it's Vancouver International Airport (#2 on the west coast) but still this idea 'could' work in OKC for business folks who want to freshen up, dont want to pay for a hotel because they're not here long enough, or for pax who cherish the airline/travel experience.

Again, it is something the airport could build out and potentially operate itself or contract (to say, Premium Lounge) and be an amenity for WRWA itself and not be airline specific. Overlooking the airside would be impressive, it wouldn't need to be too big just a main lounge room, a couple of meeting rooms, and bathrooms/showers all behind the lobby/check-in. I think it would be a hit and at least break even over time.

BTW, I totally agree with the need for breakfast options at WRWA. Particularly since the biggest rush happens in the morning, the airport should open earlier and have breakfast (and perhaps lounge... ...) for those early departures and arrivals. Maybe not profitable but is something that WRWA and the city could further differentiate itself.

Does anyone know if WRWA is profitable or does it receive tax dollars (Federal/State/City) to make ends meet?

Every airport in the country receives federal, state, and local funds.

Does anyone know if WRWA is profitable or does it receive tax dollars (Federal/State/City) to make ends meet?

According to it's financial statement it looks like yearly total expenses are generally around 70% of total income (at least for the years which show up on the report, back to 2012). The line item that looks most likely to be from federal grants is only a couple percent of total revenue. It does not really go back far enough to say for certain but it would not be surprising if the amount that is being kept each year eventually gets put into whatever larger projects that seem to come up after five to ten years. Some of that may also be spent on some of the city's other airports, which they do benefit it by not clogging it's runways/taxiways with smaller private aviation flights.

In a roundabout way it probably receives non standard federal funding due to the large FAA center here through rent (even if they own the building the FAA requires all land on airport property to be leased), ticket fees employees fly for work and fees from the flights trainees from other cities took.

I am pretty sure when it was set up it was intended to fund itself with as little money needed from the city as possible, ideally covering it's own expenses with fees, though the city could easily have decided to do capital projects for it at points in the past. Given it uses city roads, water, sewers and other services it almost surely has at least some indirectly spent on it.

If nothing else at least some state funding likely will go there due to the flights by the National Guard base collocated there; though to the airport it probably ends up just in one or more of the line items for the non-passenger usage fees, landing fees and/or rental fees.

Does anyone know if WRWA is profitable or does it receive tax dollars (Federal/State/City) to make ends meet?

I know WRWA receives quite a bit of oil and gas revenue.

Anyone know what's going on with the UA 753 that was supposed to take OU up to MHK tonight for the blowout vs KSU tomorrow? I don't even see a filed flight plan OKC-MHK for tonight. Maybe the Big 12 will spare the embarrassment tomorrow and call it off?

Anyone know what's going on with the UA 753 that was supposed to take OU up to MHK tonight for the blowout vs KSU tomorrow? I don't even see a filed flight plan OKC-MHK for tonight. Maybe the Big 12 will spare the embarrassment tomorrow and call it off?

An update on that situation by Dean Blevins.

Dean's Blog: Flight Problems For Sooners - News9.com (http://m.news9.com/story.aspx?story=30284018&catId=112032)


Finally a solution!

The United pilot assistant tells me the back up plane in Houston has been cleared and will head to OKC within the next few minutes. This by far the best option -- although I never like flying on planes that had mechanical delays.

My guess is the charter will arrive in OKC around 10 p.m. and that by the time the players are re-loaded and baggage changed we get out of here by 11 p.m. That would put the team EIGHT hours behind schedule.

It's not ideal, but in the end, getting to the Manhattan hotel at midnight beats busing in at 2 in the morning.

Football teams run like clockwork. Schedules are regimented closely. Sleep, food, nutrition, film, meetings, practice. All of it needs to have an order. That's been disrupted. But maybe after a lackluster day in the Cotton Bowl this mix-up will help.

I've seen so many posts on FB dogging UAL over this, and am tired of seeing it.

Airplanes break unfortunately. While it is certainly no secret that our customer service side has been troubled (however improving); our charter division is second to none and is an extremely well run operation with very professional, very dedicated staff. OU has been a client of UA for many years, and I have personally worked several charters and can testify to how smooth and coordinated these things go.

Catch, I understand your point. But I guess yesterday's situation was a comedy of errors and United was ill-prepared for it. Planes break but, wow, how does this happen? According to several media members on the first plane, it was the 4th United plane that actually got them to Manhattan. So, apparently what happened was:

1st plane breaks at OKC with everyone on it, determine can't fix it in time, take it out of service.
2nd plane breaks at IAH, determine can't fix it in time, take it out of service.
3rd plane breaks at IAH, determine can't fix it in time, take it out of service.
4th plane breaks at IAH, determine can fix it in time, fix it, fly it to OKC, board everyone, fly to MHK 8.25 hours late.

That's ridiculous.

My guess is you will see OU flying American or Delta next season.

ill-prepared? Do you think United had purposely picked airplanes that were broken?

**** happens. It's an amazing coincidence that 3 airplanes were not working. Mechanical things break. And sometimes multiple mechanical things on separate machines can break close to the same time.

They will be flying United next year, just as they have for the past ten or so years. This is probably the first time in many years and thousands of flights such a disaster of plane swaps has happened for the charter department.

Safety is of the upmost importance, and no flight crew nor charter department would release the aircraft based upon who was on board.

United has a fleet of over 700 mainline aircraft. The odds that 2 would have maintenance issues are extremely high, however the odds that 2 aircraft attempting to fly the same trip departing from the same hub would have maintenance issues nearly in the same time of day are extremely slim. Almost improbable. It was just extreme luck that it happened on this trip.

I am sure United fully refunded OU, as well as paid penalties to OU for not sticking to their contract.

These charter contracts are much better than your contract of carriage with your average passenger on a flight. Similar to time critical freight, even the slightest hiccup can cause the airline to lose 100% of the revenue for the flight, and eat all costs associated with reconciling the situation.

Only because this happened to the beloved Sooners, does everyone come out and pretend to know how to run an airline. United was dreading this fiasco more than OU was, believe me. Any airline would.

As a frequent flyer, it seems to me that mechanical issues across all carriers is way up. I have never had as many delayed/canceled flights due to mechanical problems as I have had this year. Delta, Southwest, United, Allegiant, and American have all left me stranded this year.

One should consider that the airplanes used, 757-300 are not new but likely the best suited for OU and its enterage of passengers to fly into Manhattan KS. I'm sure a 767 or A330 would have been better for OU but probably could not land at Manhattan's little airfield. So since the 757's are aging and probably not even in normal rotation anymore given United's adoption of A319/320 and 737-800, -900 for nearly every domestic route; there was a likelihood of mechanical issues with those charter focused 757's.

My only concern about this is - United knew well ahead of time that OU would need the charters so why didn't they do checks well in advance so not to inconvenience the client. This is the only concern I have, a business concern, but I for one fly United exclusively due to their extreme care not to fly if a plane breaks.

Because there are no special checks required for charter flights. Just like on vehicles, many times maintenance issues are not able to be seen before they happen. Especially when one airplane has thousands of mechanical parts.

For example, there's no way to tell if the integrated drive generator shaft is about to shear off. It happens and you deal with it. You have no idea when a hydraulic line will rupture. They aren't designed to, but I've seen it happen on a brand new airplane (3 weeks old). Heavy braking action upon landing, pressure relief valve stuck closed. Heat and pressure built up, the line disconnected at the fitting. There's no way to do an inspection to see if that is going to happen.

I think everyone is taking an abnormal situation, and I think it's quite irrational.

Does anyone know if WRWA is profitable or does it receive tax dollars (Federal/State/City) to make ends meet?

No airport is "profitable." Haha

Why do all of the businesses at Will Rogers WORLD Airport shutter at like 7 p.m.? Nothing is more depressing than arriving at OKC at like 8 p.m. to see nothing open in the airport. MESSAGE: "You have arrived in a tier-three city. Enjoy your stay."

I cannot believe not a single restaurant, lounge or shop stays open. It is a very negative first impression of our up and coming city.

Why do all of the businesses at Will Rogers WORLD Airport shutter at like 7 p.m.? Nothing is more depressing than arriving at OKC at like 8 p.m. to see nothing open in the airport. MESSAGE: "You have arrived in a tier-three city. Enjoy your stay."

I cannot believe not a single restaurant, lounge or shop stays open. It is a very negative first impression of our up and coming city.

No sense in having any of those places open after 30 minutes before the last departing flight, IMO

Why do all of the businesses at Will Rogers WORLD Airport shutter at like 7 p.m.? Nothing is more depressing than arriving at OKC at like 8 p.m. to see nothing open in the airport. MESSAGE: "You have arrived in a tier-three city. Enjoy your stay."

I cannot believe not a single restaurant, lounge or shop stays open. It is a very negative first impression of our up and coming city.

It looks like they stagger out the restaurant closings with most closing between 7:30 and 8:00. There are usually only 5 flights that depart after 7:30 with the last flight being at 8:00. You are supposed to start boarding your plane 30 minutes before the departure time, so baring any delayed flights, 7:30 is really a pretty reasonable closing time. There are arrivals until around 1:00 AM but there really isn't much reason to keep restaurants and shops open for people who's main goal is getting out of the airport as fast as possible. For the restaurants to stay open, we need more flights with later departure times.

Now if there was some type of grab and go coffee shop or something on the way down to the baggage claim outside of the secure area, it wouldn't be bad to have something like that open a little later.

I believe in the lease agreement, the convenience stores in the airport are required to be open until the last departure. Just need later departures to justify late hours

It would be nice if they could keep a bar open if there are delays with later departures.

Impressions count. Our airport seems dead.

I'm pretty good friends with an uber driver, he takes business guys to the airport all the time. He told me the impression is always convenient easy little airport. No frills, but no hassles either. Half this board just wants the world order of cities to be Paris, London, Tokyo, New York, okc, and will complain about anything and everything until it's that way.

I'm pretty good friends with an uber driver, he takes business guys to the airport all the time. He told me the impression is always convenient easy little airport. No frills, but no hassles either. Half this board just wants the world order of cities to be Paris, London, Tokyo, New York, okc, and will complain about anything and everything until it's that way.

Come on. This is the kind of BS statement I thought we had rid from this board. I don't expect WRWA to morph into a major international city airport. It is reasonable to ask why there are no retail shops or restaurants, coffee shops or even a bar open to welcome arriving guests or to serve late departures. It makes us look like Minot, ND. I don't think we're currently in any danger of being mistaken for Charles de Gaulle.

I don't think we're currently in any danger of being mistaken for Charles de Gaulle.

Indeed, we'd have to take a pretty hard fall downward to get to that level.

:)

Soonerguru - I have beaten this horse to death, but welcome anyone else with a stick. JIA is my home airport and it is the pride of Jacksonville. Go on Yelp and look at airport reviews of the two airports. Same size cities and JIA has 2X the number of passengers despite a half-dozen alternatives with in an easy driving distance.

Soonerguru - I have beaten this horse to death, but welcome anyone else with a stick. JIA is my home airport and it is the pride of Jacksonville. Go on Yelp and look at airport reviews of the two airports. Same size cities and JIA has 2X the number of passengers despite a half-dozen alternatives with in an easy driving distance.

Jacksonville has a beach.

I'm one of the OKC airport's harshest critics. I think the redesign was terrible. (However quite pleasing to the eye). But, I can't blame the operators for closing up shop after the last departure. Even places at PDX, which has 5 times the passenger traffic, and Transpacific and Transatlantic nonstop service, closes down after the last departure.

Why do all of the businesses at Will Rogers WORLD Airport shutter at like 7 p.m.? Nothing is more depressing than arriving at OKC at like 8 p.m. to see nothing open in the airport. MESSAGE: "You have arrived in a tier-three city. Enjoy your stay."

I cannot believe not a single restaurant, lounge or shop stays open. It is a very negative first impression of our up and coming city.

I know! I could've believe the time my ORD-OKC flight was delayed until 10:30 PM. It was a typical Chicago day so my inbound was also delayed and I barely made even my delayed connection, but I wanted to grab a late night snack before my flight and there was nothing open at all. No Tortas, no Burrito Beach, no Reggio's, no McDonald's. Must be because Chicago is dead and tier-3.

Now if there was some type of grab and go coffee shop or something on the way down to the baggage claim outside of the secure area, it wouldn't be bad to have something like that open a little later.

Absolutely 100% something like this would probably be appreciated by both business and leisure travelers. Always nice to be able to grab a snack/coffee on your way out of baggage claim - saves you the hassle of finding something outside the airport - which isn't always easy in an unfamiliar city!

I agree, I wish 'something' should stay open until like 10 or 11; maybe a lounge or a bar just to give the airport (and city) a good impression. It 'could' be a money making opportunity for the airport, I don't know. ... In some respects, it really is hard to size up WRWA because although it is in a major city, WRWA is not a hub or even focus city for anybody - so the options you see/expect in other major cities likely don't work here since there's not ANY connecting pax (at least late night).

To me, even aside from late departure - I think connecting passengers is the key because THEY are the ones who will use those businesses since they are captive in the airport waiting for flight; not necessarily the normal OKC passenger who is just coming or going O/D for a single flight. Connecting pax also bump up your passenger counts since they are counted twice (arrival, then departure); perhaps this is something OKC could work on - becoming a focus or connection city.

But even without being a connection point yet, I still wish something -lit up- could be open until 11pm just to give an 'option' to those of us who want to unwind after a flight or check the sports scores, or are aviation buffs, etc. I think a creative offering could work and might be an income generator for the airport. As we move more into Tier II, OKC might have to bite the bullet on some of these things in order to compete and appearances DO matter (recall all of the bricktown discussions past years - no body there to now a constant 'busy' even on the canal).

Impressions count. Our airport seems dead.

Are you suggesting that they leave everything open until midnight for the purposes of appearance only?

Impressions may be count, but so do practicality and economics. There is no point in leaving all the restaurants and bars open an extra 4.5 hours for the purposes of appearance when there is no one there to use them(at least no one that isn't immediately leaving the airport upon arrival). That would be a very poor business decision unless later flights were added to justify it.

Though as I said earlier, I think a grab and go type coffee shop (love field has a Dunkin donuts outside the secure area) near the escalators or baggage claim would be a good idea to add as a later night option for arrivals. Maybe a gift shop of some sort as well.

Jacksonville has a beach.

^ This....you can't compare two airports based on flight stats when one has a major tourism advantage over the other...

It would be nice if they could keep a bar open if there are delays with later departures.

I agree...not sure why it would be difficult to extend closing times if flights get delayed until midnight...

^ This....you can't compare two airports based on flight stats when one has a major tourism advantage over the other...

and NFL, which I'm not sure how big the effect, but that's more of a draw than NBA as far as traveling to your team's road games.

Businesses are going to do what makes business sense to the businesses. Meeting their contractual obligations makes sense. Staying open later may or may not make sense to them. Perhaps they tried it, saw that numbers wise it didn't make sense, and stopped. I don't have that context. While I, too, would like to see non-deadness when I get home, I can't really fault them for not going in the hole for me to see some extra lights on.

As I mentioned, I believe they are required by contract with the airport to stay open until the last flight leaves, that includes delays.

A long time ago I worked at the concession stand company (DNC) when I was in high school. I remember being forced to stay open when a flight ran late.

As I mentioned, I believe they are required by contract with the airport to stay open until the last flight leaves, that includes delays.

A long time ago I worked at the concession stand company (DNC) when I was in high school. I remember being forced to stay open when a flight ran late.

Thats good if they do stay open for delays. I've never really paid that much attention to it.

Jacksonville has a beach.
3 million people a year aren't flying to Jax for the beach. Alas, if you fight for your limitations you get to keep them.

Places like Celebration, FL require all downtown businesses to stay open 30 minutes AFTER the last movie gets out. Business factor it into their operating cost but it resulted in increased business. Not quite the same thing but pretty close. I usually get into WRWA around midnight and wouldn't mind grabbing something to eat, especially after making a tight connecting flight.

3 million people a year aren't flying to Jax for the beach. Alas, if you fight for your limitations you get to keep them.

I bet they get a ton for the 500 and 400 in Daytona.

Even if they got every single one if them it would only be 250,000, but most drive or fly into Daytona Beach Intl, Sanford Intl, or Orlando Intl which are all closer.

For the love of Pete, why do so many of you fight to the death over your limitations? It's like you don't want to improve. I don't get it.

Soonerguru - I have beaten this horse to death, but welcome anyone else with a stick. JIA is my home airport and it is the pride of Jacksonville. Go on Yelp and look at airport reviews of the two airports. Same size cities and JIA has 2X the number of passengers despite a half-dozen alternatives with in an easy driving distance.

Well when you put it that way, I better go see JIA, they have an awesome airport! Wow! Great selling point, what's cool in Jax? Dude, they have an awesome airport. Sounds like your talking about Iowa not Florida.

All your suggestions for improvement aren't based in any shred of economic or business reality.

98% of people don't get a flying you know what about the shops being closed at WRWA when they stroll into okc at 11pm at night. Even if they were open people would walk right by them and those companies are burning hundreds of dollars an hour for looks. It's like a segment of this board is afraid that if something in okc isn't always busy, crowded and lively we're basically the worst place ever.

Every idea you suggest costs in the millions, sometimes tens of millions, and occasionally hundreds of millions. Like some goofy weird regional airport in the middle of nowhere. Talk about spending hundreds of millions to fix a problem that basically doesn't exist. It's not that OKC doesn't want to improve, it's that your ideas are very rarely feasible.

It's not a lack of lets strive to improve. It's a pragmatic approach to how to improve things. Sorry I don't live in la la land and realize there are true limitations to things. This isn't monopoly money. There's only some much money and time in a day. WRWA serves it's purpose and does it quite well. I quite enjoy the fact that I have flight at 130 on Wednesday I'll show up at 1230 and be ready to board at 1245. I will not care one bit that we don't have a lounge, I'll enjoy the fact security takes 15 mins at most.

By the way tell someone from NY that it costs $7 a day to park in the garage next to the airport and I guarantee you first words out of their mouth are, "that's awesome".

Oh and your right 3 million people don't visit each year, they do it in the first six months. Why do you have the name Just the Facts and then not use any facts?
"In overall visitors, Visit Jacksonville estimates there were 3.05 million overnight guests for the first six months. That’s a 2.45 percent increase over the 2014 estimate of 2.97 million guests."

First Coast enjoys record-breaking tourism numbers for first half of 2015 | jacksonville.com (http://jacksonville.com/business/2015-08-20/story/first-coast-tourism-bureaus-report-record-breaking-numbers-first-six)

3 million people a year aren't flying to Jax for the beach. Alas, if you fight for your limitations you get to keep them.

Just curious - what are they going there for? I'm too lazy to look up the size of the JAX MSA myself, so not sure if it's that. Really am just curious because I don't have, nor do I foresee - a reason to go to JAX, so just wondering who's going there and for what. Does JAX have a lot of business traffic that we don't?

I can't imagine that many people coming in on late night flights wanting to do anything other than get onward in their journey home or to the hotel. Thus, I find it hard to believe that we need anything more than a coffee shop or kiosk outside of security open late for late night arrivals and those waiting on late night arrivals. I travel a lot for business and even if hungry when landing...I would wait to get to the hotel versus grabbing something at the airport.

Places like Celebration, FL require all downtown businesses to stay open 30 minutes AFTER the last movie gets out. Business factor it into their operating cost but it resulted in increased business. Not quite the same thing but pretty close. I usually get into WRWA around midnight and wouldn't mind grabbing something to eat, especially after making a tight connecting flight.

Just curious - what do you do when you get into ORD or LGA at midnight and everything's closed? I don't get it - if ORD routinely closes down by 10 PM (if not sooner), then what high crime is OKC committing? Large international hubs (like SIN, HKG, etc, NOT ORD, etc) are the only airports I've seen where there are numerous concessions open at all hours, and that of course is largely due to the 24 hour nature of such airports.

For the love of Pete, why do so many of you fight to the death over your limitations? It's like you don't want to improve. I don't get it.

Why do you fight so hard for airport "improvements" that don't really make sense? Making every restaurant and shop in the airport stay open until midnight for the sake of improved appearance is financially pointless and a bad idea. No one is suggesting that we not leave something open late, but this started as a conversation about all of the restaurants and bars being closed even when people are still arriving after 8:00 and it makes since to close most of them when that is the last departure time.

Improvements that make sense (and for the most part are being implemented):
- Massively expanded security check point, recomposure, and lobby areas
- Making the current security areas dedicated exits
- Offsite rental facility
- Improved public transportation from downtown to the airport
- Improved baggage handling
- Additional baggage carousels
- Improving the look of the concourse
- More and improved restaurants and bars
- A better selection of unsecured restaurants, shops, and bars
- The new terminal wing with additional gates
- Better guest waiting area
- Expanded parking garage
- The addition of small scale customs services

Improvements that don't make as much sense right now:
- Bulldozing the entire terminal to increase the baggage claim ceiling height
- Redecorating the entire building because it doesn't fit your personal style (Everyone I've talked to about the airport likes the way it looks)
- Leaving every restaurant, bar, and store open to operate at an almost guaranteed loss from the additional time between the final departure and final arrival...for the sake of appearance (and once again, that does not mean that I don't think something should stay open later).
- Adding airline club space for the big three when there is not near enough demand to do so yet.
- Building a massive airport in the middle of nowhere to serve 3 cities that are 2 hours away and already have nice, recently renovated airports.

JTF, you generally share a lot of great ideas here, but you established the fact that you don't like our airport early on and I don't think anything short of bulldozing Will Rogers (dumb) will change that. They are making a lot of great improvements to what is already considered by most (or at least everyone I know that flies through it) to be a nice airport. I think we all just fundamentally disagree with your low opinion of it...nothing wrong with that, but I think you're going to have trouble getting many of us to agree with you.

JIA Airport Statistics 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Aircraft Operation 96,440 97,801 87,448 90,034 89,597

Enplanements 2,808,989 2,753,567 2,613,128 2,564,883 2,621,650

Deplanements 2,792,511 2,761,598 2,608,997 2,564,329 2,609,338

Total # Passengers 5,601,500 5,515,165 5,222,125 5,129,212 5,230,988

Jacksonville is actually in a decline as far as passenger counts go. Their peak was in 2010, prior to 2014 they declined 3 out of 4 previous years.

The bottom line for 2014 - JIA total passenger counts 5.2 mil, OKC total passenger counts 3.8 mil.

Well when you put it that way, I better go see JIA, they have an awesome airport! Wow! Great selling point, what's cool in Jax? Dude, they have an awesome airport. Sounds like your talking about Iowa not Florida.

Lol, I was going to say the same thing. I don't know that I ever want Will Rogers to be "The Pride of OKC."

I did pick some people from out of town up at the airport Friday and dropped them off yesterday and they said they really liked our airport compared to many that they've flown out of. They thought it looked nice, was clean, easy to get in and out of, and had enough options to make waiting for their flight enjoyable. I think most visitors' opinions of Will Rogers are better than many of ours.

I can't imagine that many people coming in on late night flights wanting to do anything other than get onward in their journey home or to the airport. Thus, I find it hard to believe that we need anything more than a coffee shop or kiosk outside of security open late for late night arrivals and those waiting on late night arrivals. I travel a lot for business and even if hungry when landing...I would wait to get to the hotel versus grabbing something at the airport.

Exactly. I'm in the same boat. If I get in really late, I want coffee and a snack for the road and to get out of the airport as soon as possible. I only hang around the airport after arrival in situations where I get in really early in the morning and want to eat breakfast and prepare for an early meeting...something that is already possible at Will Rogers.

Lol, I was going to say the same thing. I don't know that I ever want Will Rogers to be "The Pride of OKC."

I did pick some people from out of town up at the airport Friday and dropped them off yesterday and they said they really liked our airport compared to many that they've flown out of. They thought it looked nice, was clean, easy to get in and out of, and had enough options to make waiting for their flight enjoyable. I think most visitors' opinions of Will Rogers are better than many of ours.

I don't want it to be the pride of okc. That's like an insult you hurl at Wichita, nicest place in town is the airport. Left the airport and it just got worse from there.

I straight up do not understand the WRWA hate. I walk in, at my gate in 15 mins on a busy day, it's cheap to park, decent directs but if not just hop to dallas, sure it doesn't have some of the stuff a huge airport does but it also doesn't have any of the headaches either.

I don't want it to be the pride of okc. That's like an insult you hurl at Wichita, nicest place in town is the airport. Left the airport and it just got worse from there.

I straight up do not understand the WRWA hate. I walk in, at my gate in 15 mins on a busy day, it's cheap to park, decent directs but if not just hop to dallas, sure it doesn't have some of the stuff a huge airport does but it also doesn't have any of the headaches either.

I don't either...the only complaints I've heard are from people who have had massive delays...but they complain no matter where they get delayed! I saw a lady so upset about a delay in Baltimore that she almost got tased by security and there are plenty of entertainment options there!

I've parked at the airport 30 minutes before a scheduled departure and made it from the garage, through security, and onto the plane with time to grab a cup of coffee...I've cut it nearly that close and have still been able to get a bag checked and on the plane. I will take that any day when I have to do it 10+ times a month. And to top it off they ARE actively making massive improvements to it.