On November 4, 2026, Omaha travelers got their first real taste of the airport's future. The Omaha Airport Authority opened the first portion of the new concourse at Eppley Airfield (OMA), a "Gate Preview" phase of the Terminal Modernization Program known as Build OMA. Four new gates are now in service, and for anyone flying out of Nebraska's busiest airport, the change is hard to miss. The eppley airfield new terminal isn't finished yet — not by a long stretch — but this opening marks the moment the billion-dollar rebuild stopped being a construction story and started being something passengers can actually walk through, sit in, and board from.
At a Glance
| Airport | Eppley Airfield |
| IATA code | OMA |
| City | Omaha |
| Country | United States |
| Terminals | Single terminal with North and South concourses |
| Timezone | Central Time (UTC-6) |
| Official website | FlyOMA.com |
| Map | 📍 Map |
What Opened on November 4, 2026
The November 4 opening covers the first four gates of the new concourse: Gates A1, A1A, A1B and A2. Travelers reach them through the existing South Terminal security checkpoint, which means the route through the airport feels familiar at first — check in, clear security in the South Terminal, then head toward the new gates. According to the Omaha Airport Authority's official update, the new gates initially serve airlines operating from the South Terminal, and Delta Air Lines is using the new gates first.
The opening is deliberately called a "Gate Preview." That's a fair description of where things stand. Four gates is a small slice of what the finished concourse will be, but it's a working slice, with real flights boarding from it. The authority chose to open this section as soon as it was ready rather than wait for the rest of the concourse, and that decision tells you something about how the project is being run: get usable space into passengers' hands as each piece finishes, instead of keeping everything behind construction walls until the very end.
What the Eppley Airfield New Terminal Gates Look Like Inside
Step into the new gate area and the first thing you'll notice is the light. Big windows and a brighter, more open layout set the new gates apart from the older parts of the terminal right away. The seating has been updated, and it's the kind of upgrade that solves small, everyday annoyances: seats now come with power outlets and USB charging built in, so you're not hunting for a free outlet on the wall or guarding the one charging station near your gate. Additional charging stations are spread through the space as well.
The restrooms are larger than what travelers are used to in the older concourse, which matters more than it sounds on a busy travel morning. Mothers' rooms and family restrooms are part of the new space too, giving parents with small children a private, comfortable place that the old terminal simply didn't offer in the same way. These are the details that don't make headlines but shape how a trip actually feels — especially for families, for business travelers working from a laptop at the gate, and for anyone stuck with a long wait between flights.
The overall impression is a space built around how people actually use an airport in 2026. Plenty of places to sit, power within reach, room to move, and natural light. It's a preview in the literal sense: a sample of the design language, the materials, and the passenger-first thinking that the rest of the new terminal is expected to carry forward as more of it opens.
Flying Through OMA Right Now: What to Expect
Here's the honest part: the airport is still a construction site, and your trip through it will show it. The new gates are open, but the wider terminal redevelopment is still very much under way, and the authority has been clear about what that means for passengers in the meantime.
First, pickup and drop-off. Passenger pickup and drop-off stay on Level 1 of the South Garage during construction. If you're driving someone to the airport or picking them up, that's where you need to be — not at the terminal curb the way you might remember it. Give yourself a few extra minutes the first time you do it, especially if you're used to the old routine. The garage setup works, but it's different, and different takes a minute to learn.
Second, some terminal entrance doors are closed while work continues. That can be confusing if you walk up to a door you've used for years and find it shut. The fix is simple: follow the signs. The airport has added enhanced wayfinding signage through the construction areas, and staff in uniforms are on hand to help travelers find their way. If you're unsure where to go, ask — that's what they're there for, and it's a lot faster than wandering.
A few practical tips for flying through OMA right now:
- Arrive with a little extra time in hand, especially if it's your first trip since the changes. The new gates add a walk past security, and the construction detours can add a few minutes.
- Check the interactive map at FlyOMA.com/map before you travel. It shows the current layout, and it's the quickest way to see where your gate sits relative to security and the garage.
- If you're being picked up, confirm with your driver that pickup is on Level 1 of the South Garage.
- Watch for updates at BuildOMA.com and FlyOMA.com, where the authority posts the latest construction news and travel guidance.
- Keep your phone charged before you leave home — or don't worry about it, since the new gates have power at the seats.
What's Coming Next at Eppley Airfield
Four gates are only the beginning, and the timeline from here is packed. Later in November 2026 — within weeks of the gate opening — the first new airport concession opens for South Terminal passengers. That's the first taste of the new food, drink and shopping options the finished terminal will offer, and it's a useful milestone: concessions are often the part of a new terminal passengers notice most, because it's where you spend the time before your flight.
Then, in early 2027, the next big piece arrives. The new Central Pavilion opens, along with more of the Unified Concourse, and that changes the picture in a much bigger way. When the Central Pavilion opens, all OMA passengers come into the new terminal experience — not just those flying from the South Terminal gates. More concessions open with it, along with an airport lounge and a centralized security checkpoint. The centralized checkpoint is the piece that will reshape how the airport flows: one main security entry point for the whole terminal, replacing the split setup travelers use today.
After that, construction continues through 2028 on the remaining pieces, including the Central Pedestrian Skywalk, the International Arrivals Facility, and other improvements. The International Arrivals Facility matters because it sets up the airport for international flights in a way the current terminal doesn't. The skywalk, meanwhile, is about the walk itself — a more direct, covered connection that makes getting between the terminal and parking easier in all weather, which in a Nebraska winter is worth a lot. The whole terminal redevelopment is an approximately $1 billion program, expected to complete in 2028.
Why This Matters for Omaha Travelers
Why should you care about four new gates? Because airports shape how a city travels, and for a long time Omaha's airport has been playing catch-up with the way people fly today. Eppley Airfield is Omaha's airport and Nebraska's busiest airport, and it carries the travel needs of a whole region — not just the city itself, but the surrounding communities that rely on OMA as their gateway. When the terminal is cramped, dated, or short on the basics, every traveler in that region feels it.
The new gates fix some of that right away. Power at the seats, bigger restrooms, mothers' rooms, family restrooms, more light, more space — these are the things that make a two-hour wait at the gate feel fine instead of draining. They also signal intent. An airport that invests in the passenger experience at the gate is an airport that's thinking about the whole journey, not just the runway.
There's a bigger point too. A modern terminal makes a city more competitive for air service. Airlines look at the whole picture when they decide where to fly: the runways, the gates, the passenger facilities, the ease of the operation. A billion-dollar terminal rebuild tells airlines that Omaha is serious about air travel for the long term. That doesn't guarantee new routes, and it's worth being honest about that — no one should read this opening as a promise of specific new destinations. But a modern terminal is part of the foundation that makes future growth possible, and the International Arrivals Facility in particular opens a door that wasn't fully open before.
Should you choose OMA for your next trip? If Omaha is where you live or where you're headed, the answer is straightforward: the airport is getting better, gate by gate, and the new gates are a genuine improvement on the old experience. If you're choosing between airports for a trip to the region, the new terminal is one more reason to fly into Omaha rather than drive in from somewhere else — especially once the Central Pavilion and centralized security open in early 2027. For now, just plan around the construction: use the garage pickup and drop-off, follow the signs, and check the map before you go.
The story of the Eppley Airfield new terminal is still being written, and November 4, 2026 was the first chapter passengers could actually walk into. Four gates, a brighter space, and a clear timeline for what's next. Omaha's airport is changing, and this time you can see it from your seat at the gate.
Frequently asked questions
When did the first gates of the eppley airfield new terminal open?
The first portion of the new concourse opened on November 4, 2026, with Gates A1, A1A, A1B and A2 entering service. It's a "Gate Preview" phase of the Terminal Modernization Program, reached through the existing South Terminal security checkpoint.
Which airlines use the new gates at Eppley Airfield?
The new gates initially serve airlines operating from the South Terminal, with Delta Air Lines using the new gates first. Check your boarding pass and the airport's flight information displays for your gate, since gate assignments can change.
What is new inside the eppley airfield new terminal gates?
The new gate area has updated seating with power outlets and USB charging, additional charging stations, larger restrooms, and mothers' rooms and family restrooms. The space is brighter and more open, with large windows and room to move.
When will the rest of the eppley airfield new terminal open?
Later in November 2026 the first new concession opens for South Terminal passengers. In early 2027 the new Central Pavilion and more of the Unified Concourse open, bringing all OMA passengers into the new terminal experience, with more concessions, an airport lounge and a centralized security checkpoint. Construction continues through 2028, including the Central Pedestrian Skywalk and the International Arrivals Facility. The overall program is expected to complete in 2028.
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