Jason Ball, President & CEO – Lincoln Chamber of Commerce (LCOC.com)

At the close of 2025, Lincoln received news worth celebrating – news that reflects strong momentum, continued growth and a bright future. American Airlines announced plans to introduce daily nonstop flights from Lincoln to Dallas–Fort Worth and Chicago beginning in 2026, along with seasonal service to Phoenix. This announcement builds on recent progress at the Lincoln Airport, following Breeze Airways’ launch of nonstop service to Orlando and the addition of routes to Las Vegas and Orange County this spring. United Airlines will also continue providing reliable connections to Chicago and Denver, ensuring Lincoln remains well connected to key business and leisure markets.

With this recent news, the Lincoln Airport is now on track to offer nonstop service to seven destinations across three airlines. For Lincoln’s business community, this level of connectivity is a true game changer. It enhances how we do business, how we attract talent and how easily we stay connected to the rest of the country. The importance of this cannot be overstated.
Moments like this don’t happen by accident. In 2022, Nebraska voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing regional airports to use certain revenues to recruit and retain air service. That pivotal decision laid the groundwork for today’s success and was driven by committed leaders and advocates, including Nick Cusick of Bison, State Senator Eliot Bostar, Congressman Mike Flood and many others who made the case statewide.

Since then, the Lincoln Airport team continued to innovate and recruit new service. In 2024, they adopted a new strategic plan, engaging industry expert Kenneth Strickland to guide air service development. Along the way, our community also had thoughtful, and at times difficult conversations about smart investments, revenue guarantees and long-term priorities. Rather than allowing past challenges to define us, Lincoln chose progress. As a result, we have the best opportunity for robust air service our community has experienced in the past decade.

While this progress undoubtedly deserves celebration, it also marks the beginning of an important next phase. Over the next two years, airlines will closely evaluate passenger demand as revenue guarantees begin to phase out. Those decisions will shape whether these routes become permanent fixtures or missed opportunities. The good news is that the outcome is largely within our control, and this is where the Lincoln business community plays a vital role. Every time a company, organization or individual chooses to Fly LNK, it sends a powerful signal of support. Consistent use demonstrates that Lincoln values and sustains its air service. If we show up collectively, we have a rare opportunity to secure these routes for the long term and strengthen our case for even more destinations in the future.

Reliable air service is more than a convenience; it is a cornerstone of a competitive business environment. These new routes strengthen Lincoln’s ability to attract talent, retain businesses, host large-scale events and support regional growth. When we choose to Fly LNK, we are not just booking a flight, we are investing in Lincoln’s future and reinforcing our place on the map for years to come.