Will Rogers World Airport

[Bellaboo]

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.

[OUman]

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.

[ljbab728]

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.

[catch22]

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.

[PhiAlpha]

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.

[Snowman]

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/mtgview...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.

[Josh Ryan]

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

[Josh Ryan]

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.

[Just the facts]

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.

[HOT ROD]

folks, the lounge doesn't need to be airline specific; wrwa could just have an airport lounge - something akin to the Plaza Premium Lounges 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.

[Just the facts]

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

[catch22]

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

[Snowman]

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.

[Bellaboo]

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.

[no1cub17]

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?

[ljbab728]

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

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.

[catch22]

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.

[brianinok]

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.

[catch22]

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.

[Just the facts]

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.

[HOT ROD]

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.

[catch22]

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.

[soonerguru]

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

[soonerguru]

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.

[bradh]

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