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Despite dwindling passenger numbers, the Lincoln Airport's future looks relatively bright.
At least that's the assessment of consultants from Coffman Associates who gave an update of the airport's master plan Thursday.
Figures provided by Coffman showed enplanements at the airport rebounding from 203,000 in 2005 to more than 250,000 by 2010 and to 350,000 by 2025.
Total passenger numbers are usually about double the number of enplanements because most people fly roundtrip, meaning the airport could be looking at 700,000 passengers by 2025.
“We're looking at some positive growth trends,” said Patrick Taylor, one of the consultants.
Those passenger numbers would be a far cry from the present. Last year, passenger numbers hit a two-decade low at 380,000 and they are on track to be even lower this year.
Much of that drop is due to airlines cutting flights and destinations in Lincoln over the past couple of years.
But Taylor and Mike Dmyterko, the other consultant, said there are a lot of factors in the airline industry working in Lincoln's favor. For one, several airlines that were in bankruptcy have exited in much stronger financial shape. Those include United and Northwest, which serve Lincoln.
And airlines, which have been slow to add capacity since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, are operating at high load factors, meaning they will likely have to expand to keep up with passenger demand.
“They're going to have to do something,” Dmyterko said.
He said it's likely Lincoln will see improved service from its existing carriers, probably in the form of bigger planes, more frequent flights and possibly even new destinations.
Dmyterko was less confident, though, when asked by an Airport Authority board member whether Lincoln could expect a new airline coming to the market.
“Frankly, I wouldn't be comfortable saying that,” he said.
While air service and passenger numbers were a hot topic among airport officials and board members, most of the master plan presentation dealt with capital improvements the airport may have to make.
Taylor and Dmyterko estimated about $85 million worth of capital improvements in the next 20 years, with about $50 million of that eligible for reimbursement from the Federal Aviation Administration.
John Wood, the airport's executive director, pointed out that most of the capital improvements the airport must make, such as runway upgrades to comply with FAA directives, will be paid for with federal grants. Other projects identified in the master plan, such as new hangars, will be market-driven, and will only happen if there is demand and a means to pay for them.
Overall, Wood said, the report was about what he expected.
“The numbers came in about where we were thinking,” he said. “But you've got to remember, it's just planning.”
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