Leisure travel making a comeback at Will Rogers

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OKLAHOMA CITY – Leisure travel has made a robust return at Will Rogers World Airport as the numbers of passengers and flights continue to grow from the pandemic slump. The airport now offers 28 nonstop flights.

The busiest travel days are Thursday, Friday and Sunday, which indicates people are flying out for the weekend, said Jeff Mulder, director of airports for the city of Oklahoma City.

“That’s come back strong,” Mulder said. “What’s lacking is business travel. Monday and Tuesday are pretty quiet.”

Historically, the biggest destinations from Oklahoma City have been Houston and Denver, which more likely involve business-related travel, Mulder said. He expects incoming business trips to grow throughout the year with increased activity at the Oklahoma City Convention Center.

WRWA peaked at 4.4 million passengers in 2019 and recovered to 3.5 million last year. “I think we’re going to get pretty close to 4.4 million again in 2022,” said Mulder, who stepped into the role of overseeing the city’s three airports in November. Recent and ongoing improvements to WRWA are providing a good first impression to visitors who come to Oklahoma City and easier departures for locals, he said.

Passengers flying out of WRWA transitioned to a six-lane security checkpoint in the terminal’s new east concourse last fall, relieving the problem of long lines at two older checkpoints that snaked through the passenger lobby.

“The checkpoint is working well. We’re using six lanes today but as we continue to grow, we can add more,” Mulder said. The upgrade also benefits the Transportation Security Administration because it no longer must staff two locations, he said. TSA will be adding more technology for screening luggage that will work similar to an MRI by providing views from several angles, Mulder said. That should move passengers through the checkpoint even quicker.

The $87 million expansion project – which added 133,022 square feet to the existing 410,000-square-foot airport terminal – increased the number of gates from 17 to 21 and includes a spacious non-ticketed area where friends and family of travelers can watch aviation activity.

The expanded terminal – designed by Oklahoma City-based FSB Architects + Engineers – features new concessions, amenities and artwork by Matt Goad that reflects the culture, history, industry and weather of Oklahoma throughout the new concourse.

Mulder said the rest of the building is being remodeled with new carpet, lighting and restroom upgrades. “The old gate area is functional, but we want to bring them up aesthetically for a fresh look,” he said.

New retail shops and restaurants are coming to the airport, both in the new concourse and the exiting concessions area. Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Tropical Smoothie Café, Starbucks and Vino Volo have opened. Opening in the next year to two years will be food concession Elemental Coffee, Hatch and Osteria and retail shops Plenty Mercantile, Tin Lizzie’s, I-Store Express and Oklahoma’s Own News 9 news, gift and sundries.

A new YMCA Military Welcome Center with more space than the current location is nearly completed behind the Southwest Airlines ticket counter, Mulder said. The welcome center offers a relaxing atmosphere for traveling military members from all branches, active or retired. The center provides refreshment, internet access, long-distance phone service, stamps/stationery, games and high-definition satellite TV.