LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The Lincoln Airport’s passenger numbers are down, but airport officials are considering re-configuring the terminal building to accommodate peak demand and the possibility of a third airline.
Airport officials are hoping to put a $750,000 grant toward enticing American Airlines to start service to Dallas, a move that could lead to thousands of additional passengers, the Lincoln Journal Star reported.
Lincoln Airport’s current terminal building is inefficiently set up with two security checkpoints, which each lead to gates on opposite sides of the terminal, according to executive director David Haring.
“It’s a lot like a split-level home,” Haring said.
Each checkpoint can process about 120 passengers an hour, he said. But consolidating the checkpoints into one would be 50 percent faster, meaning 360 people could be screened every hour, according to Haring.
The airport’s difficulty running the checkpoints efficiently is further exacerbated by low staffing provided by the Transportation Safety Administration, which bases staffing levels by the airport’s passenger numbers.
Airport officials have considered ideas to improve the terminal, which were estimated to cost between $1 million and $8 million. Now, officials are looking for professional advice.
The Airport Authority recently approved Haring spending up to $75,000 to hire an outside firm to offer recommendations.
“We’re kind of at a point where we can’t wait,” Haring said. “It’s imperative that we do something.”
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Information from: Lincoln Journal Star, http://www.journalstar.com
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