Nebraska’s airports are gearing up for a transformative 2026, with new nonstop routes from Lincoln and Omaha set to connect the state more directly than ever to key leisure and business hubs. From fresh links to Florida and Nevada to expanded access to New York and Miami, the changes reflect both rising demand for air travel in the region and a broader national push to modernize airport infrastructure. For travelers, the result will be more choices, shorter travel times, and increasingly sophisticated terminals in both Lincoln and Omaha.
Lincoln’s Growing Role as a Leisure Gateway
Long overshadowed by Omaha’s larger Eppley Airfield, Lincoln Airport has quietly been working to reposition itself as a convenient, traveler friendly gateway for southeastern Nebraska. The arrival of Breeze Airways marks a turning point. The low cost carrier begins nonstop service from Lincoln to Orlando International Airport in December 2025, with promotional fares aimed squarely at families and value focused leisure travelers. The flights operate twice weekly and run into spring 2026, offering a direct route to one of the country’s most in demand vacation markets.
For years, Lincoln’s scheduled commercial service had been limited to United Airlines flights to Denver and Chicago. Airport officials had actively pursued a second carrier after the short lived experiment with Red Way in 2023. With Breeze’s entry, Lincoln gains not just competition but a new network strategy that focuses on linking smaller and midsize markets directly to major leisure destinations rather than forcing passengers to connect through sprawling hubs.
The Orlando route is expected to draw travelers from a wide catchment area that includes not only Lincoln but also nearby communities that previously drove to Omaha or Kansas City for flights to Florida. The convenience factor is significant for families, sports teams, and university related travel, particularly during peak holiday and spring break periods. Local tourism and economic development leaders see the link as a tool for retaining travel spend in the region while raising Lincoln’s profile among national carriers.
New 2026 Nonstops from Lincoln to Las Vegas and Orange County
Breeze Airways is not stopping with Orlando. In a clear vote of confidence in the Lincoln market, the airline has already announced an additional expansion for 2026. Beginning April 8, 2026, Breeze will introduce nonstop service from Lincoln to Las Vegas, with flights scheduled twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Travelers will also be able to remain onboard in Las Vegas for a same plane, one stop “BreezeThru” continuation to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California.
The Las Vegas route opens a direct corridor to one of the strongest leisure and convention destinations in the United States. For Lincoln area residents, it reduces both cost and time compared with driving to a larger airport or connecting through another city. For business and conference travelers, in particular those linked to Nebraska’s growing tech, insurance, and agricultural industries, the connection offers new flexibility in reaching West Coast and Mountain West markets.
Equally notable is the link to Orange County. While not a nonstop flight from Nebraska, the BreezeThru model allows passengers to stay on the same aircraft in Las Vegas without changing planes. That convenience makes Southern California’s beaches, theme parks, and business centers more accessible to Nebraskans seeking alternatives to the more congested Los Angeles hubs. It also reflects Breeze’s broader strategy of layering multiple city pairs onto a single aircraft rotation in order to serve smaller markets efficiently.
For the Lincoln Airport Authority, the 2026 additions help diversify its route map and reduce reliance on a single carrier. Officials have underscored that securing new flights even before the first Orlando departure signals that the airline sees strong underlying demand in the region. If the routes perform well, they could encourage additional seasonal or year round service to other cities, reinforcing Lincoln’s emergence as more than a purely feeder airport.
Omaha’s Eppley Airfield: New York and Miami Now Within Direct Reach
While Lincoln is ramping up its leisure focused offerings, Omaha’s Eppley Airfield is adding big city connectivity of its own. Southwest Airlines has confirmed that it will launch two new nonstop routes from Omaha in early March 2026. Beginning March 5, 2026, the carrier will start nonstop service between Omaha and New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Two days later, on March 7, 2026, Southwest will debut nonstop flights from Omaha to Miami International Airport.
The New York route is a major development for business, finance, and tourism ties between Nebraska and the East Coast. LaGuardia offers access to the greater New York metropolitan area, connecting Omaha based companies and institutions more directly with clients, investors, and partners in one of the world’s leading commercial centers. For leisure travelers, the route simplifies weekend city breaks and family visits that previously required a connection through another hub.
The new nonstop to Miami adds a second high profile destination to the 2026 lineup. Miami serves not only as a gateway to South Florida’s beaches and cruise ports but also as a key entry point to Latin America and the Caribbean. For Nebraskans, it significantly shortens the path to warm weather escapes in winter and provides new options for international itineraries that begin with a straightforward flight from Omaha.
These additions build on Eppley’s already solid network of nonstop destinations, which include a mix of major hubs and popular leisure cities. By layering in LaGuardia and Miami, Southwest positions Omaha more prominently on its national map and underscores the airport’s role as the primary commercial aviation anchor for eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.
Infrastructure Upgrades at Eppley Supporting Expanded Service
The wave of new routes out of Omaha is being supported by a sweeping modernization effort at Eppley Airfield. Under the Build OMA Terminal Modernization Program, the airport is in the midst of a multiyear, nearly one billion dollar expansion and renovation designed to accommodate more flights, more passengers, and a higher standard of customer experience. The terminal footprint will grow substantially and the concourses will eventually be unified, with a central security checkpoint and updated concessions.
Key early phases of the program have already reshaped the airport’s front door. The Terminal Drive and canopy project, completed in 2025, installed a full length glass canopy over the drop off and pick up lanes and improved roadway capacity and accessibility. Travelers now benefit from covered access and a more intuitive curbside layout, which will be particularly important as passenger volumes increase with the addition of new flights in 2026 and beyond.
Inside the terminal, construction is being carefully phased to keep the airport operational while major sections are rebuilt. Early 2025 brought a “terminal split,” temporarily dividing the facility into north and south segments to allow work on a new central pavilion that will house a future centralized security screening area and expanded retail and dining options. That work will continue through the mid 2020s, with completion targeted for 2028.
Federal support has played a crucial role in advancing the project. A recently announced ten million dollar Airport Infrastructure Grant for the 2026 fiscal year will help fund the final phase of the modernization, including new departure gates, upgraded security areas, and improved international processing capacity. As the physical airport evolves, airlines gain more flexibility to schedule additional flights, larger aircraft, and new routes such as the 2026 services to New York and Miami.
Lincoln’s Strategy: From Underserved to Well Connected
Lincoln’s air service expansion is unfolding on a smaller physical footprint but with equally strategic intent. After a period of contraction that left only core United Airlines routes in place, the airport’s leadership has focused on targeted, sustainable growth that matches local demand with the right kind of airline partners. Breeze Airways, with its emphasis on connecting underserved cities directly to popular destinations, aligns closely with that vision.
The new Orlando, Las Vegas, and Orange County services are tailored to the market’s strengths. Lincoln is home to a major university, a sizable healthcare sector, and a growing tech and startup ecosystem, all of which generate steady travel demand on top of strong family and vacation traffic. Nonstop flights to Florida and Nevada tap into year round leisure patterns, while the link to Southern California opens doors for both tourism and business links in industries ranging from agriculture to entertainment.
Airport officials have emphasized that the goal is not to compete head on with Omaha for hub status but to carve out a niche as a convenient, hassle free alternative for specific routes with clear local support. By working closely with Breeze on scheduling and pricing, Lincoln aims to prove that smaller airports can sustain nonstop service to high demand destinations when the route structure is carefully designed.
In practical terms, that means maintaining realistic departure frequencies, investing in marketing to build awareness, and encouraging local travelers to “fly local” rather than defaulting to larger airports several hours away. If the 2026 routes gain traction, they could serve as a template for future additions, potentially including seasonal connections to other Sun Belt or mountain destinations.
Impact on Travelers Across Nebraska
For Nebraska residents, the combined expansions at Lincoln and Omaha translate into tangible changes in how they plan trips. More nonstop routes reduce the need for connections, which can lower the risk of delays and missed flights while cutting overall travel time. Families heading to Orlando or Las Vegas from Lincoln, for example, will be able to bypass an extra stop in a hub city, making travel days shorter and often less stressful.
In Omaha, direct access to New York and Miami gives both leisure and business travelers more flexibility in scheduling. Early morning departures and evening returns allow for tighter itineraries and more time at the destination. The added capacity can also relieve pressure on existing routes by spreading demand across a broader network, which can help stabilize fares and improve availability during peak periods.
These developments also have knock on effects for neighboring states. Travelers in parts of Iowa, Kansas, and South Dakota may find that new Nebraska routes offer better timing or pricing than options at their closest airport. That could further enlarge the catchment areas for both Lincoln and Omaha, reinforcing the case for maintaining and expanding the new services beyond their initial launch windows.
Perhaps most importantly, the expansions signal that airlines see continued growth potential in midcontinent markets. In an era when some carriers are consolidating service into larger hubs, the willingness of Breeze, Southwest, and other airlines to invest in Nebraska routes underscores the state’s importance within national travel patterns and provides local travelers with a wider array of choices than in years past.
Positioning Nebraska for the Next Decade of Air Travel
Nebraska’s 2026 air service expansion is unfolding against a backdrop of broader changes in the aviation industry. Airlines are rethinking their networks in response to shifting demand, with renewed emphasis on point to point leisure routes and a closer look at how small and midsize airports can fit into their strategies. At the same time, airports are investing heavily in infrastructure to improve capacity, efficiency, and the overall passenger experience.
In Omaha, the Build OMA program is reshaping Eppley Airfield into a more modern, spacious, and efficient facility that will be better equipped to handle larger passenger volumes and more complex route structures. In Lincoln, a more modest but focused approach is emphasizing reliability, convenience, and carefully chosen destinations that match local needs. Together, the two airports present a complementary picture of how a state can enhance connectivity without duplicating efforts.
As 2026 approaches, travelers in Nebraska can expect to see booking options expand, particularly to warm weather and coastal destinations. The challenge for both airports will be to sustain the new routes by encouraging strong local usage while continuing to court additional services that fill gaps in the current maps. Success will depend not just on airline strategy but on continued collaboration between airport authorities, local businesses, tourism organizations, and travelers themselves.
For now, the trajectory is clear. With new nonstop flights to Orlando, Las Vegas, Orange County, New York, and Miami, and with major infrastructure upgrades underway in Omaha, Nebraska is poised to play a larger role in the country’s air travel network. For residents and visitors alike, 2026 will mark the beginning of a new chapter in how the state connects to the rest of the world.