Eppley Airfield Opens First New Gates

Four new gates at Omaha's Eppley Airfield began serving passengers as part of a $950 million terminal modernization and expansion project.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Air Travel

Live Poll

Do you support spending $950 million to upgrade Omaha's airport terminal?

The first four gates of Eppley Airfield's terminal modernization opened to passengers at about 4:00 a.m., with Delta using the new gates attached to the existing south terminal. The gates carry temporary numbers A1, A1A, A1B and A2 and will be renumbered 12 through 15 by the time the terminal is completed in 2028.

Why it matters

The opening marks a visible milestone in a $950 million overhaul intended to expand capacity and upgrade passenger facilities at the Omaha airport. Passengers flying from the south terminal will see the first tangible changes as construction continues around them.

Each new gate's waiting area averages 2,600 square feet, compared with about 1,500 square feet in the current terminal. The project's $950 million cost and its daily workforce of about 700 construction workers are the key measurable scale of the expansion.

The players

Omaha Airport Authority

The Omaha Airport Authority is the public agency that operates Eppley Airfield and oversees its terminal modernization and expansion program.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines is a major U.S. carrier that began using the newly opened gates at Eppley Airfield.

The details

The new gates are attached to the existing south terminal, and a 47-foot-long video display board with 33 million pixels has been installed. The adjacent Gallery OMA relaxation lounge is open, and the overall project is several months ahead of schedule.

November 4, 2026: First four new gates open to passengers at about 4:00 a.m.
First quarter 2027: Central pavilion with TSA checkpoint expected to open
2028: Terminal expansion expected to be completely finished

Travel Outlook

The phased Eppley project keeps the north terminal in service while new gates open on the south side, a sequencing approach that limits disruption to airlines and passengers. Expansion timing is set against a 2028 completion target for the full project.

Travelers using Eppley's south terminal should expect the new gates, which have temporary numbers, to be renumbered to 12 through 15 by 2028. Passengers may notice construction activity and gate changes during the coming months as the project continues.

The takeaway

Travelers flying from Eppley should check their gate numbers before heading to the airport, since the temporary designations will change before the project is completed. Keeping an eye on the expected first quarter 2027 security checkpoint opening can help frequent flyers plan for future changes.

What happens next

The central pavilion with the TSA checkpoint and nine security lanes is expected to open in the first quarter of 2027, when Eppley is also expected to begin offering CLEAR.