Eppley Airfield says March 2021 was busiest month for travel since pandemic began
The airport also announced the addition of a new flight
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Updated: 10:54 PM CDT Apr 21, 2021
The airport also announced the addition of a new flight
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Updated: 10:54 PM CDT Apr 21, 2021
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JULIE: TRAVEL RATES ARE SOARING RIGHT NOW AT EPPLEY AIRFIELD. ROB: NEW NUMBERS FROM MARCH SHOW THE MOST PASSENGERS THE AIRPORT HAS SEEN SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC. JULIE: AS KETV NEWSWATCH 7’S ALEXANDRA STONE REPORTS, THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY SAYS ITS READY TO REINTRODUCE SOME FORMER FLIGHTS. AND ESTABLISH NEW ONES ALEXANDRA: AFTER A TURBULENT YEAR FOR AIR TRAVEL THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS AT EPPLEY AIRFIELD IS PICKING UP. >> WE DID SEE QUITE AN UPTICK IN ACTIVITY HERE AT EPPLEY AIRFIELD IN THE MONTH OF MARCH. ALEXANDRA: STEVE MCCOY CHIEF INFORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICER AT EPPLEY AIRFIELD SAYS MARCH 2021 WAS THE BUSIEST MONTH AT EPPLEY SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN. >> IT WAS A LITTLE OVER 250,000 PASSENGERS FLYING THROUGH EPPLEY AIRFIELD THAT’S QUITE AN INCREASE COMPARED TO WHAT WE’VE SEEN OVER THE LAST YEAR. HOWEVER, COMPARED TO 2019 MARC NUMBERS, WE ARE STILL DOWN ABOUT 42%. ALEXANDRA: 5 NONSTOP FLIGHTS ARE STILL SUSPENDED AFTER DEMAND DROPPED OFF DURING THE PANDEMIC BUT MCCOY SAYS AN AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT TO LOS ANGELES WILL RESUME ON MAY 6. AND WEDNESDAY EPPLEY ANNOUNCED THE ADDITION OF A BRAND-NEW FLIGHT. >> AMERICAN AIRLINES TODAY ANNOUNCED A NEW DAILY NONSTO SERVICE FROM OMAHA EPPLEY AIRFIELD TO NEW YORK LAGUARDIA AIRPORT, THAT WILL BEGIN ON NOVEMBER 2. ALEXANDRA: BENJI CUNNINGHAM AND HIS FAMILY ARE HEADED OUT ON A FAMILY TRIP HIS SON PLAYING IN A FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT. >> I’M EXCITED TO GO TO VEGAS >> I’M VERY EXCITED, IT WILL BE LOTS OF FUN. HOPEFULLY LAY BY THE POOL. ALEXANDRA: MCCOY SAYS EPPLEY WILL CONTINUE WITH ITS TRAVEL SAFE PROGRAM INCLUDING THINGS LIKE TOUCHLESS TECHNOLOGY, ENHANCED CLEANING AND MASKS REQUIRED, THINGS TRAVELERS APPRECIATE. >> I WAS NERVOUS AT FIRST, WHEN I WENT TO CALIFORNIA BECAUSE IT WAS A FULL FLIGHT, LIKE THERE WAS NO LIKE SOCIAL DISTANCING BUT I WORE A MASK AND DIDN’T CATCH ANYTHING. ALEXANDRA: WITH BAGS PACKED AND PANDEMIC PRECAUTIONS IN PLACE PEOPLE ARE READY TO TAKE OFF AGAIN. >> JUST TRAVEL AND TRAVEL A LOT . AIRLINES ARE WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO RECOVER AND I THINK WITH THE, WITH THE, YOU KNOW, THE VACCINES THAT ARE COMING OUT, THE