Will Rogers World Airport

[VeggieMeat]

Our southwest flight from Houston landed about 30 minutes before the Denver and SLC flights got turned around. Took two attempts and you couldn’t see any lights on the ground until we were what looked like about 30-50 feet above the runway (possibly lower). I’ve flown a ton and never have landed in fog like that. Touched down so hard that several people woke up screaming LOL. Solid job by the pilots to get it on the ground.

That might be because Southwest is much more willing to land with a tailwind if it means they can park faster.

[HOT ROD]

def sounds like KOKC is in need of an upgrade, perhaps Legends Tower can be the catalyst to make that happen.

[PhiAlpha]

that might be because southwest is much more willing to land with a tailwind if it means they can park faster. :d

lol

[Richard at Remax]

Oklahoma City airport close to milestone for new nonstop flights

https://www.news9.com/story/67a8345e...Qjm02DwpNQxspQ

[Swake]

Oklahoma City airport close to milestone for new nonstop flights

https://www.news9.com/story/67a8345e...Qjm02DwpNQxspQ

With a hiring freeze and Elon gutting the federal government will the new facility be able to be staffed?

[Pete]

Frontier Airlines offers nonstop flights to Orlando beginning March 7
02/11/2025

Frontier Airlines is ramping up for the spring break travel season with nonstop service from OKC Will Rogers International Airport to Orlando (MCO) beginning March 7. Flights will operate twice daily.

“This is great news for Oklahoma City,” Director of Airports Jeff Mulder said. “Orlando is a much sought-after destination. This will greatly enhance the air service options for our leisure and business travelers. We appreciate Frontier’s commitment to our community.”

Frontier also offers a nonstop one-way special for only $19 from OKC to Denver, departing March 19, and to Vegas, departing April 16.

Flights are on sale now at flyfrontier.com.

[PhiAlpha]

With a hiring freeze and Elon gutting the federal government will the new facility be able to be staffed?

I know that the FAA was exempted from the hiring freeze. Given the heavy emphasis on border security, It seems highly doubtful that there would’ve been any kind of hiring freeze on Customs and Border Patrol.

Edit: Yes they are most likely exempt: “signed an executive order instituting the freeze on Monday shortly after his inauguration, but allowed for exceptions for positions related to immigration enforcement, national security or public safety.”

“The language of Trump’s order suggests Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, either in whole or in part, would be exempt in order to carry out Trump’s immigration and border security crackdown. ”

https://www.govexec.com/workforce/20...-shape/402421/

[Zuplar]

I know that the FAA was exempted from the hiring freeze. Given the heavy emphasis on border security, It seems highly doubtful that there would’ve been any kind of hiring freeze on Customs and Border Patrol.

Edit: Yes they are most likely exempt: “signed an executive order instituting the freeze on Monday shortly after his inauguration, but allowed for exceptions for positions related to immigration enforcement, national security or public safety.”

“The language of Trump’s order suggests Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, either in whole or in part, would be exempt in order to carry out Trump’s immigration and border security crackdown. ”

https://www.govexec.com/workforce/20...-shape/402421/

That's interesting that the FAA was exempt, I had applied for a job out at the Monroney Center, and after the inauguration I got an email that said the job I was applying for had been removed from the system. I thought this was odd given the job, so I reached out and was told by someone out at the Monroney center that the hiring freeze was the reason why the job was removed, it had not been filled, and they recommended I keep an eye out for it in the future and apply at that time.

[OKCbyTRANSFER]

That's interesting that the FAA was exempt, I had applied for a job out at the Monroney Center, and after the inauguration I got an email that said the job I was applying for had been removed from the system. I thought this was odd given the job, so I reached out and was told by someone out at the Monroney center that the hiring freeze was the reason why the job was removed, it had not been filled, and they recommended I keep an eye out for it in the future and apply at that time.

The freeze is in place for FAA with certain positions exempt. Even the voluntary retirement option is not for every FAA position. Many jobs offers, like yours, were rescinded after Jan 20th. A lot of phone calls were made on the 17th.

[okcrun]

Frontier Airlines offers nonstop flights to Orlando beginning March 7
02/11/2025

Frontier Airlines is ramping up for the spring break travel season with nonstop service from OKC Will Rogers International Airport to Orlando (MCO) beginning March 7. Flights will operate twice daily.

Unless they are still adding flights to their system this isn't true. I'm seeing nonstop flights every few days and only once a day (unless they are counting a return flight as one of the two).

[Triggerman]

Numbers: 2024 Passenger Volume

OKC 4.6M

DEN 82.3M

DFW 87.8M
DAL 16.3M
Total 104.2M (for Metroplex)

[Triggerman]

Numbers: 2024 Passenger Volume

OKC 4.6M

DEN 82.3M

DFW 87.8M
DAL 16.3M
Total 104.2M (for Metroplex)

[HOT ROD]

staggering figures, BUT one should look for context.

DFW, DAL, and DEN are each connecting hubs for some of the largest airlines; main AA hub for DFW, main or second Southwest hub for DAL, and second United, main Frontier hubs for DEN. This provides context into their numbers, lots of connections - which are also counted. So you'll have a pax on ICT-DEN-LAX be counted as arriving DEN and departing DEN on that single journey. OKC has little to none of this connecting pax, most OKC traffic (and ICT) is origin/destination.

The BEST way to get OKC's numbers up are to get connections. International flights help with this greatly but if OKC could score a hub, mini-hub, or focus-city arrangement - OKC's annual pax would jump to at least 6M+ just like that. I think it's important to have context in these situations, they aren't apples to apples; even among hubs where you have fortress hubs (ATL, SFO, DFW, IAD), mega hubs (ORD, LAX), gateway hubs (JFK), and so on that they are oranges to tangerines by comparison (similar, but different depending on the setup).

An apples to apples comparison is OKC vs ICT, OKC vs OMA, OKC vs TUL. OKC does very well with those, OMA can be seen to have significantly more O/D traffic than OKC, however, but OKC is closing in.

[VeggieMeat]

The BEST way to get OKC's numbers up are to get connections. International flights help with this greatly but if OKC could score a hub, mini-hub, or focus-city arrangement - OKC's annual pax would jump to at least 6M+ just like that. I think it's important to have context in these situations, they aren't apples to apples; even among hubs where you have fortress hubs (ATL, SFO, DFW, IAD), mega hubs (ORD, LAX), gateway hubs (JFK), and so on that they are oranges to tangerines by comparison (similar, but different depending on the setup).

Why not consider low-volume ultra-regional to EAS-eligible locations? I could see B200, C208, C402, or P2012 running LBL-OKC. Sure, only nine seats, but it would connect the panhandle to the capital city and be subsidized. Maybe a more touristy destination like HOT or HRO? (Just spitballing ideas without much thought. Sort of based it on what we see in New England and Montana with Cape Air, and tried to keep it in that sweet spot of an equivalent drive between 2 and 8 hours.)

[PhiAlpha]

Why not consider low-volume ultra-regional to EAS-eligible locations? I could see B200, C208, C402, or P2012 running LBL-OKC. Sure, only nine seats, but it would connect the panhandle to the capital city and be subsidized. Maybe a more touristy destination like HOT or HRO? (Just spitballing ideas without much thought. Sort of based it on what we see in New England and Montana with Cape Air, and tried to keep it in that sweet spot of an equivalent drive between 2 and 8 hours.)

I like this idea though I feel like any EAS airports would funnel to larger hubs like Kansas’s do.

[warreng88]

This doesn't really have any thing to do with the airport itself, but the road going in and out. We got out of the house last night, drove down the airport via meridian and noticed south of Amelia earhart (at the light where the NB and SB split) was pretty much a solid sheet of ice. I would assume the area is a responsibility of the Airport Trust and not the city, although I have nothing to confirm that. For comparison, the streets north of Amelia Earhart were completely clear. I know there are a lot of airport people on here so maybe they can weigh in.

[okcrun]

This doesn't really have any thing to do with the airport itself, but the road going in and out. We got out of the house last night, drove down the airport via meridian and noticed south of Amelia earhart (at the light where the NB and SB split) was pretty much a solid sheet of ice. I would assume the area is a responsibility of the Airport Trust and not the city, although I have nothing to confirm that. For comparison, the streets north of Amelia Earhart were completely clear. I know there are a lot of airport people on here so maybe they can weigh in.

The only flight I've ever missed was because of this, was a 6:30am flight and everything was plowed and salted but the road to the airport and cars were abandoned all over the road. This was a few years ago though, I just figured I was unlucky and they hadn't gotten to it yet but you may be right that it's not the city's responsibility.

[LakeEffect]

This doesn't really have any thing to do with the airport itself, but the road going in and out. We got out of the house last night, drove down the airport via meridian and noticed south of Amelia earhart (at the light where the NB and SB split) was pretty much a solid sheet of ice. I would assume the area is a responsibility of the Airport Trust and not the city, although I have nothing to confirm that. For comparison, the streets north of Amelia Earhart were completely clear. I know there are a lot of airport people on here so maybe they can weigh in.

Correct assumption on the split line... https://www.okc.gov/residents/prepar...winter-weather

That said, the Airput is a City function, so you'd think they could share resources a bit. The problem is that the roadway into the arrivals/departure areas can't handle a traditional snowplow truck (past a certain point), so they're likely stuck using pickup trucks, which don't work well on long stretches of roadway...

[Urbanized]

This doesn't really have any thing to do with the airport itself, but the road going in and out. We got out of the house last night, drove down the airport via meridian and noticed south of Amelia earhart (at the light where the NB and SB split) was pretty much a solid sheet of ice. I would assume the area is a responsibility of the Airport Trust and not the city, although I have nothing to confirm that. For comparison, the streets north of Amelia Earhart were completely clear. I know there are a lot of airport people on here so maybe they can weigh in.

I had to go to the airport this morning and the southbound portion (approach to airport) was mostly fine, but the lanes heading north departing the airport were straight-up white knuckle material. As in curb-to-curb polished skating rink ice, no evidence of treatment, salt, plowing whatsoever. Not even tire ruts. Everyone (myself included) was driving 10 mph at best, and trying to stay as far away from other vehicles as possible. Worst ice driving experience I’ve had in a VERY long time. As soon as I was north of Amelia Earhart it was all clear, just like most of the rest of the city.

[OKCbyTRANSFER]

Thursday the FAA center was back open and same, going into the center from either gate was totally iced over. Roads on center and parking lots were not much better. Was told they used multiple pallets of ice melt but we only saw it on sidewalk and building entry areas. Even though it's Airport Trust the FAA has the snow and ice removal responsibility

[TheTravellers]

And coincidentally, Bill Robertson retired last year, and I think he was responsible for part of the clearing/removal there, lol... Not sure if he did inside the fences or had stuff outside, though.

[oktxatty]

Why not consider low-volume ultra-regional to EAS-eligible locations? I could see B200, C208, C402, or P2012 running LBL-OKC. Sure, only nine seats, but it would connect the panhandle to the capital city and be subsidized. Maybe a more touristy destination like HOT or HRO? (Just spitballing ideas without much thought. Sort of based it on what we see in New England and Montana with Cape Air, and tried to keep it in that sweet spot of an equivalent drive between 2 and 8 hours.)

The EAS program is currently under review by DOGE. Stay tuned.

From the AZ Republic 11/24: "Air travel could become a lot more expensive and inconvenient for rural communities in Arizona should Donald Trump be elected president in November."

Buried deep in Project 2025, the 900-page far-right plan for a second Trump term, is a call for ending the Essential Air Service (EAS), a federal program that ensures rural Americans have access to air travel by subsidizing the cost of service in smaller towns and communities that would otherwise go without air service. Trump also repeatedly tried to make cuts to the program during his first term and even called for its elimination, even as it would have harmed communities that disproportionately support him. Republicans in Congress have also previously tried to ending funding for the Essential Air Service, so should they retain their majority in the House, they could help Trump enact cuts to the program."

[PhiAlpha]

The EAS program is currently under review by DOGE. Stay tuned.

From the AZ Republic 11/24: "Air travel could become a lot more expensive and inconvenient for rural communities in Arizona should Donald Trump be elected president in November."

Buried deep in Project 2025, the 900-page far-right plan for a second Trump term, is a call for ending the Essential Air Service (EAS), a federal program that ensures rural Americans have access to air travel by subsidizing the cost of service in smaller towns and communities that would otherwise go without air service. Trump also repeatedly tried to make cuts to the program during his first term and even called for its elimination, even as it would have harmed communities that disproportionately support him. Republicans in Congress have also previously tried to ending funding for the Essential Air Service, so should they retain their majority in the House, they could help Trump enact cuts to the program."

Has been announced by the president or anyone other than the site for the group that came up with Project 2025?

[Richard at Remax]

Where Air Canada could deploy those planes in the U.S. is the question. Asked what type of destinations the airline is looking at, Lefèvre said, "Our big focus, and our big success over the past few years, have been in those unaligned markets where we've got a right to win."

"Look at Hartford for example," he continued. "Hartford is a market market where you can make a difference but not as much as if you want to serve Oklahoma City, for example. If you look at Oklahoma City and you look at the routing to go from [there] to Europe ... and we're exactly on the right path. Those are the markets we're looking at."

Air Canada has no immediate plans to serve Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport (OKC), Lefèvre added."

https://thepointsguy.com/news/air-ca...H4U8EUdFgZ5SXg

[BG918]

Where Air Canada could deploy those planes in the U.S. is the question. Asked what type of destinations the airline is looking at, Lefèvre said, "Our big focus, and our big success over the past few years, have been in those unaligned markets where we've got a right to win."

"Look at Hartford for example," he continued. "Hartford is a market market where you can make a difference but not as much as if you want to serve Oklahoma City, for example. If you look at Oklahoma City and you look at the routing to go from [there] to Europe ... and we're exactly on the right path. Those are the markets we're looking at."

Air Canada has no immediate plans to serve Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport (OKC), Lefèvre added."

https://thepointsguy.com/news/air-ca...H4U8EUdFgZ5SXg

I’ve long wondered if there could be a market for NE/Europe connections through Air Canada. 1x/daily on an E175 or RJ900, arriving in YYZ in the evening and timed for Europe connections. No need for immigration since that they have pre-clearance.