On the garage expansion I have not heard of expanding it, I know in future there will be more Lot Parking options but I have not heard anything about a garage expansion. Also to everyone who will be flying or picking customers up at the airport please make sure you allow some extra time for road construction on the airport property.

While they approved the existing garages to be renovated, which has been in process in phases for a while, the only expansion to parking I remember was converting the former rental lots to a few types of parking.

With that allowing a bump in capacity almost the same as both the parking structures, it seems odd they would be in a rush to build a new parking structure right now. Sure it is not quite as convenient as parking structures or the surface parking directly adjacent, but it is not that much worse than the adjacent parking either.

I found it odd from a logistics perspective.

"Yes, I'd like to be picked up"
"Meet me in the departures"
"But I'm arriving here"
"I know"

It was confusing when I flew home from Nashville New Year’s Night.

Airports going from analog to digital on their paging system this week, I prepared the existing speaker lines to move over to new amps and you should see new microphone stations in place this week, the space needed for the new system shoud be cut in half and I was surprised the existing system is barely working, they have some amps with external fans in the front and a vacuum cleaner hose coming from the ac cooling the back.
Fun to see my local airport from behind the scenes

[QUOTE=Snowman;1103905]While they approved the existing garages to be renovated, which has been in process in phases for a while, the only expansion to parking I remember was converting the former rental lots to a few types of parking.

With that allowing a bump in capacity almost the same as both the parking structures, it seems odd they would be in a rush to build a new parking structure right now. Sure it is not quite as convenient as parking structures or the surface parking directly adjacent, but it is not that much worse than the adjacent parking either.[/QUOTE

Yes there will be new long term lots located where the former rentals use to be. There will also be new cell phone/uber etc area as well. The renovation of the garage already took place and pretty much completed with minor details still in process, there will be renovations in other existing lots this year.

i don't remember this do you know when that was approved??

Maybe I am mis-remembering, I really thought they approved it a few years ago when they increased the parking rates. I definitely remember watching a video on this thread of one of the board meeting where they were talking about capacity issues with the current garages.

Here is a post discussing it back in the day: https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=32325&page=33&p=968213#post968213

Maybe I am mis-remembering, I really thought they approved it a few years ago when they increased the parking rates. I definitely remember watching a video on this thread of one of the board meeting where they were talking about capacity issues with the current garages.

Here is a post discussing it back in the day: https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=32325&page=33&p=968213#post968213

thanks for looking that up

Drove to airport yesterday and there were over 500-600 spots available on each floor of the main garage. There were 13 people on my wife's SWA flight

Boardings down 95%.

On April 15th, only 280 passengers traveled from WRWA, which normally averages around 7,000 per day.

https://oklahoman.com/article/5660807/coronavirus-in-oklahoma-air-travel-near-standstill


You wonder if the large terminal expansion is going to get hung up due to lack of revenue.

I manage two sites. One on Meridian and the other on Air Cargo Road. I go between the two a few times a day. It’s usually a wait to turn left on Meridian toward Air Cargo. And it was a major pain the first couple of months of Meridian being redone south of 54th. Now I go between the two and often don’t see another car. Funny though, the big blue car rental shuttles seem to be running on their regular schedule even if empty.

I read today they’re not putting the new signs up on Meridian.

Views of the inside of the terminal expansion from the artist Matt Goad.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAD2oxNB9xL/

Great find, Shawn. Looking good and coming along nicely.

Some photos from Timberlake construction:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wrwa051520a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wrwa051520b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wrwa051520c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wrwa051520d.jpg

AAR closing Duluth, MN maintenance base

https://www.startribune.com/aar-closing-duluth-airline-maintenance-facility-costing-hundreds-of-jobs/570656972/

Hopefully OKC doesn't see a similar fate, the MRO business is currently being shaken apart. OKC might see some additional work with the consolidation, though which would be good. I can't remember what Duluth specialized in, I think Airbus narrowbody landing gear overhaul and passenger cabin refits/refurb. AAR at OKC is primarily used for Boeing 737, Bombardier CRJ, and Embraer E170 series airframe overhaul and inspections. Hopefully some spillover can increase the scope of work in OKC. AAR opening an Airbus line here would be tremendous once things pick back up. But that is wishful thinking on my part.

Sorry to hear for the people in Duluth.
-----
“The Duluth facility’s equipment will be transferred to other AAR maintenance, repair and overhaul stations.”

The company has four other similar locations in U.S. and two in Canada.

AAR closing Duluth, MN maintenance base

https://www.startribune.com/aar-closing-duluth-airline-maintenance-facility-costing-hundreds-of-jobs/570656972/

Hopefully OKC doesn't see a similar fate, the MRO business is currently being shaken apart. OKC might see some additional work with the consolidation, though which would be good. I can't remember what Duluth specialized in, I think Airbus narrowbody landing gear overhaul and passenger cabin refits/refurb. AAR at OKC is primarily used for Boeing 737, Bombardier CRJ, and Embraer E170 series airframe overhaul and inspections. Hopefully some spillover can increase the scope of work in OKC. AAR opening an Airbus line here would be tremendous once things pick back up. But that is wishful thinking on my part.

I thought I read AA was retiring their Bombardier CRJs effectively immediately. Is that correct, and would it affect our maintenance facility?

I thought I read AA was retiring their Bombardier CRJs effectively immediately. Is that correct, and would it affect our maintenance facility?

AAR is not related to AA - not sure about their CRJs but like United, I could see them holding on to some. The CRJ-700 is the only commercial jet airplane certified to operate into Aspen and a few other mountain towns. Those flights are cash cows and are worth keeping a small fleet of CRJs.

Press release:

*****************

For Immediate Release: June 15, 2020

TERMINAL DRIVE CELL PHONE WAITING AREA OPENS
New Location Improves Access to Terminal

OKLAHOMA CITY, June 15, 2020 – Last week, construction crews put the final touches on a new cell phone waiting area at Will Rogers World Airport. The new area provides 195 parking spaces, improved access to and from Terminal Drive, LED lighting for enhanced visibility, as well as a flow-through design that maximizes parking and means drivers never have to back in or out of a parking space.

Signage on southbound Terminal Drive will direct drivers to the new waiting area. The entrance is just south of the Amelia Earhart Lane intersection.

The cell phone waiting area is not only a convenient amenity, it helps to improve traffic circulation at the terminal. More cars in the waiting area usually translates to less congestion in the lanes next to the building. And because city ordinance designates the terminal curbside for active loading and unloading only, use of the waiting area also helps drivers avoid a citation.

A quick reminder, proper use of a cell phone waiting area means receiving a passenger’s call or text from the curb before approaching the terminal. The passenger should always be ready to load in the vehicle as soon as the driver arrives.

The concept of a cell phone waiting area originated after 9/11 when parking curbside at the terminal was no longer permitted. The original area was located on Terminal Drive and quickly exceeded capacity. A parking lot just north of the air traffic control tower became the temporary location while the airport planned and constructed the new Terminal Drive waiting area. Returning access to Terminal Drive was an important goal of the project for user convenience and accessibility.

Construction of the project began in November 2019 and total costs were $872,235.35. The contractor was A-Tech Paving. Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc., designed and engineered the project.

The Cab drivers sure are not back or did they move them else where. That lot has been empty for months now.

Views of the inside of the terminal expansion from the artist Matt Goad.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAD2oxNB9xL/

I am not too impressed with the design and I did not think they needed a expansion since it is already a nice airport but I am probably the only one who thinks that

I am not too impressed with the design and I did not think they needed a expansion since it is already a nice airport but I am probably the only one who thinks that

Pre-covid there was decent arguments for adding more gates and reworking the security setup (ours was just in the process of being upgraded before 9/11 security standards would exist). The option of moving international travel services up a tier depends on if the numbers they had were indicating they could get that type of in the near future or already had some interest from a provider(s) in the works.

Though some of the aesthetic styling seems oddly dated, like 60s or 70s era style that did not age well being rehashed. I wish they would have kept to the style of the rest of the building.

The expansion was due to rising demand and not about making the airport look cooler. I agree with Snowman, would be nice if they had stuck with the original architecture. This mismatched look will be kinda strange

The expansion was due to rising demand and not about making the airport look cooler. I agree with Snowman, would be nice if they had stuck with the original architecture. This mismatched look will be kinda strange

Were there any plans or drawings of the expansion with the original architecture elements, or are you saying you wish the expansion was designed with the original architecture of the existing terminal building?

Did they move the Cab staging area elsewhere? Work near there that when i go stretch my legs i can kind of see it but I never see a cab there anymore. however i can see other cars in there all the time after about 6PM. Been wondering what is going on.

The have all the glass in and are now moving on to finishing the interior.

These are from the FSB FB page:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wrwa102220a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wrwa102220b.jpg

Looks great.

I guess that’s one upside, they are able to complete this work during a very low-impact time on travel...

Looks nice so far. Hopefully there'll be a reason to use it by the time it's completed...

Which, speaking of, when is the ETA on when this will be finished?

I am not sure why it needs an expansion, the airport is nice enough but I saw the design a few pages back and I am not too impressed, it is too busy, that is just my opinion

It's so we can have an international capable terminal/gates.

But also the publicly accessible observation deck will be great.

It's so we can have an international capable terminal/gates.

But also the publicly accessible observation deck will be great.

That makes sense, I guess that is good but I wish the design is not too busy, oh well

They were also running out gates before COVID, no?

They were also running out gates before COVID, no?

correct

One of the biggest improvements will be a huge new security area.

9/11 happened after the last airport renovation and thus they had to improvise what we have now, which is cramped and inefficient.

This new area will be massive and should allow for much faster security checks.

One of the biggest improvements will be a huge new security area.

9/11 happened after the last airport renovation and thus they had to improvise what we have now, which is cramped and inefficient.

This new area will be massive and should allow for much faster security checks.

Remember when security area was actually in the terminal across from that glassed in bar? The whole thing was carpeted? I think there were ficus trees? Crazy times.
Glad to see a bigger security area. Needs a dedicated precheck global TSA lane at some point in the future.

correct

And to expand on that, the expansion was set to begin once the airport leased all except 1 gate. The city will not lease out Gate 1 and will keep it "common use" to allow for charters, diversions, or airlines to rent it first come first served "by the turn" (I believe $450 per use up to 4 hours).

This "trigger" was built in to the master plan update around 2007. It was finally triggered in 2015. In 2012, Gate 8, 11, and 12 were vacant.

In 2013 UA leased Gate 11.
In 2014 AA leased Gate 8.
In 2015 F9 ended service, vacating Gate 2.
In 2015 AS began service, leasing Gate 2.
Gate 1 and 12 remain open, however Gate 1 is the city's gate which leaves Gate 12 as the only leasable gate. The trigger threshold was met and the airport proceeded with expansion in later 2015, I think around October.
In 2017 F9 resumed service, leasing Gate 12.

Current lease agreements:

Alaska Airlines: 2
Allegiant Airlines: (no lease agreement, uses city Gate 1)
American Airlines: 4, 6, 8 (rents 1, 2 for morning bank)
Delta Air Lines: 20, 22, 24
Frontier Airlines: 12
Southwest Airlines: 14, 16, 18
United Airlines: 3, 5, 9, 10, 11

And to expand on that, the expansion was set to begin once the airport leased all except 1 gate. The city will not lease out Gate 1 and will keep it "common use" to allow for charters, diversions, or airlines to rent it first come first served "by the turn" (I believe $450 per use up to 4 hours).

This "trigger" was built in to the master plan update around 2007. It was finally triggered in 2015. In 2012, Gate 8, 11, and 12 were vacant.

In 2013 UA leased Gate 11.
In 2014 AA leased Gate 8.
In 2015 F9 ended service, vacating Gate 2.
In 2015 AS began service, leasing Gate 2.
Gate 1 and 12 remain open, however Gate 1 is the city's gate which leaves Gate 12 as the only leasable gate. The trigger threshold was met and the airport proceeded with expansion in later 2015, I think around October.
In 2017 F9 resumed service, leasing Gate 12.

Current lease agreements:

Alaska Airlines: 2
Allegiant Airlines: (no lease agreement, uses city Gate 1)
American Airlines: 4, 6, 8 (rents 1, 2 for morning bank)
Delta Air Lines: 20, 22, 24
Frontier Airlines: 12
Southwest Airlines: 14, 16, 18
United Airlines: 3, 5, 9, 10, 11

as always thanks Catch for all the great information

Interesting United rents the most gates (5) in OKC. Did they get that good of a deal or is/was traffic really that heavy for them? or are /some of the gates too small?

I thought Southwest was by far the busiest airline at OKC (followed by AA) yet they only have 3 gates which turn often (AA has 3-5). Any insight?

UA used to have a very sizable morning bank consisting of 10 departures within about a 2 hour period. I would expect UA to give at least one gate back as they have scaled back a bit even before COVID.

AA could certainly use another gate. They were renting 2 every morning (by using AS Gate 2 and City gate 1)

If UA were to give up a gate I would ask for 10, and I would move AS to gate 10, and give AA gate 2. That way their ops are all on the west side of the west concourse. (not broken up by the retail in the center)

https://twitter.com/hillcienda/status/1336051466348474377

Expansive public art displays to be featured in expanded airport (https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=601-Expansive-public-art-displays-to-be-featured-in-expanded-airport)

Work has started on an $89 million expansion (https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=591-Construction-starting-on-89-expansion-at-Will-Rogers-Airport) to Will Rogers World Airport and several large pieces of public art will be included in the improvements.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airportart1.jpg


The Oklahoma City Arts Commission will vote on Monday to approve plans by local artist Matt Goad to install multiple terrazzo floor designs as well as etched glass wall.

Goad's proposal won out over five finalists, selected after the Oklahoma City Airport Trust voted to publish a Call to Artists seeking an artist or team of artists to design and oversee installation for integrated works that would be a part of the airport buildout.

Titled OKConnected, the artist statement describes the collective works as “the story of Oklahoma City, designed as a welcome mat for the city's front door: Will Rogers World Airport”.

The largest installation will come in the form of a massive terrazzo floor display in the new section of the lobby that leads to the singular, consolidated security checkpoint. The design calls for colors and shapes that provide a clean and calming experience and depicts scenes from just before and after the founding of Oklahoma City.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airportart2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airportart3.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airportart5.jpg


The remainder of the project will adorn the new main atrium and gate corridor will the goal of connecting arriving and departing passengers with a sense of place through images of OKC's colorful cultures and industries.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airportart6.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airportart8.jpg


The designs are all round and evoke central-pivot irrigation circles that are common in the Oklahoma landscape.

The centerpiece is the atrium where a 'celebration of Oklahoma City' provides a focal point with a depiction of Will Rogers himself, as well as hospitality, sports, music and entertainment.

The area also includes the curved etched glass wall for the 2nd level walkway.

Assuming approval by the Arts Commission, the airport trust would have final approval of the project.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airportart9.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airportart11jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airportart12.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airportart13.jpg


I was curious so I dug back through the thread to find the art renderings. Should be pretty awesome when complete.

Update from the artist

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIyOymXhDkB/

The latest schedule shows August 25th of this year as the completion date for the airport expansion project.

Flying might even be a reasonable thing to regularly do again by that point.

pics please!!! :)

Just curious, what is that stuff made out of? It says it's poured. Is it an epoxy?

Just curious, what is that stuff made out of? It says it's poured. Is it an epoxy?

Isn't in called terrazzo or something?

Isn't in called terrazzo or something?

Correct. Pieces are individually laid to create the patterns. It's expensive and time consuming, but it's amazing. It'll also be smooth, unlike the 6"x6" tile all over the existing concourse.

https://www.ntma.com/ (National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association)

Press release:

*********

Major Changes on the Horizon for Retail and Concessions at WRWA
Will Rogers World Airport and Paradies Lagardère introduce new retail store and restaurant plan, offering both local and national icons

Oklahoma City, February 8, 2021 - Will Rogers World Airport and award-winning airport concessionaire Paradies Lagardère, with approval of the Oklahoma City Airport Trust, announce plans to redefine the traveler experience with an array of new retail stores and restaurants. The vision for this effort, originally unveiled through a competitive request for proposals, will deliver 17 new concepts that offer travelers iconic national brands and also established local favorites from the community.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the timeline to unveil the full program will be altered across different phases proportionate to returning passenger levels. Each location will be assessed and executed in a responsible and sustainable manner.

“With this exciting new concession program, nationally recognized brands are expected to come online close to the opening of the Terminal Expansion later this year. Local brands will become available as air travel recovers,” said Mark Kranenburg, Director of Airports. “With the implementation of this new program, we are confident that retail and dining at WRWA will be better than it’s ever been.”

Currently at WRWA, Paradies Lagardère is operating several proprietary brands. Tuk Tuk Go is a unique and decorative concept offering a fresh, wide assortment of grab and go offerings. Two full-service restaurant/bar concepts are also available, The Grill at OKC and OKC Flight Cantina.

This summer expect the opening of a Tripadvisor retail store, transforming the world’s largest travel website into an energetic travel essentials location. Vino Volo Craft will showcase the airport wine brand’s evolution by offering its award-winning wine program alongside a new selection of inspired craft cocktails.

The iconic Starbucks is planned to open in the Fall as will Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steak Burgers, which has dozens of popular locations across Oklahoma City and was voted to Forbes’ 2019 “America’s Best Franchises” list.

As travel returns, the airport and Paradies Lagardère, with its business partners Kamber’s at the Airport, LLC, and Plenty Mercantile, LLC, look forward to properly scheduling the remaining lineup of eclectic, exciting locations:

Restaurants
Elemental Coffee Café, the popular community-driven, small-batch roastery and cafe
Hatch, Oklahoma City’s next-level breakfast destination
Osteria, the restaurant and craft bar dedicated classic Italian cuisine
Tropical Smoothie Café, serving incredible smoothies and wholesome food options

Retail Stores
Plenty Mercantile, the local gift store that champions sustainability and hospitality
Tin Lizzie’s, offering a crafted selection of Oklahoma-owned boutiques, artisans and makers
Oklahoma’s Own News 9 Travel Essentials, showcasing the iconic KWTV News 9
Corsa featuring Brighton and SPANX, offers top fashion and accessories for any traveler
iStore Express, the quick stop for the best tech accessories on the market

“The improvements at Will Rogers have been nothing short of extraordinary the last two decades, and the vision presented here by Paradies Lagardère reflects that evolution,” said Mayor David Holt. “We’re America’s 25th-largest city, we have unique retail, drink and food options, and they deserve to be highlighted at our airport, which is our city’s front door. From the very beginning of this process, Paradies Lagardère prioritized the concept of highlighting unique local offerings, and I’m delighted with the work they’ve put into it. The concession plan they are advancing will be a love letter to Oklahoma City, and that’s exactly what we deserve. We look forward to this partnership.”

“We greatly appreciate our long-standing partnership with Will Rogers World Airport and applaud their forward-thinking efforts in evolving their overall concessions program to reflect the new reality of today and the future,” said Gregg Paradies, President and CEO of Paradies Lagardère. “We are confident that our offering of exciting local and national concepts will exceed the expectations of OKC travelers.”

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HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wrwa020821c.jpg


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HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wrwa020821g.jpg

this is fantastic

really hope it works

Pete, do you know if most of these will open in the new concourse or spread throughout there and the existing facility? I know it says they will open when travel picks up, but wasn't sure if locations known.

^

Hatch is taking over the 405 Grill location.

Not sure about the others.

That is some dang good food at an airport. Well done.

Will be nice to give travelers a lot of local flavor rather than just chains.

Really looking forward to when this entire renovation is complete and we all feel more comfortable getting on airplanes again.

I am a somewhat frequent flyer and I do not see how all of these could survive at the same time in WRWA. Especially a local coffee place when a Starbucks is also planned?

Right now during the pandemic, the current offerings are for sure pathetic, but this seems incredibly ambitious.

I am a somewhat frequent flyer and I do not see how all of these could survive at the same time in WRWA. Especially a local coffee place when a Starbucks is also planned?

Right now during the pandemic, the current offerings are for sure pathetic, but this seems incredibly ambitious.

It is. I will frequent Elemental EVERY TIME. But if they're competing against SBX, I fear for the long term...

With the expansion, I suspect the two coffee places will be in completely separate areas.

As we all know, people tend to go from security to their gate so depending on where you are headed you will likely only pass one of them, not both.

I'll see if I can get a site plan.

This will be even more exciting if OKC gets all the flights that were planned.

That were planned pre-covid? Under the impression that the pandemic has set the aviation industry back years?