Lincoln Airport (LNK) (lincolnairport.com)has been named Nebraska’s 2025 Part 139 Airport of the Year by the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics. The award was presented on January 29, 2026, in Kearney, Nebraska, during the Nebraska Aviation Council Aviation Symposium. It recognizes the airport’s exceptional performance in air service development, infrastructure investment, operational reliability, and community engagement.
The award follows an unprecedented year of growth! In 2025, LNK welcomed two new airlines: Breeze Airways launching nonstop service to Orlando, Las Vegas, and Orange County; and American Airlines adding new routes to Dallas Fort Worth and Chicago, along with seasonal service to Phoenix. These additional routes will nearly double daily departures, expand seat capacity, and are projected to generate nearly $75 million in new economic impact for the region.
Also in 2025, LNK launched the largest infrastructure project in its history – a nearly $100M rehabilitation of Runway 18/36 (one of the longest runways in the nation at 12,901 feet) fully funded through federal, state, and local partnerships. At the same time, Lincoln Airport remained committed to community engagement through educational tours, STEM initiatives, aviation partnerships, and hosting free public events.
“What Lincoln Airport accomplished this year has been monumental, not only within the State of Nebraska, but across our industry at large,” said Kenneth L. Strickland, Director of Air Service Development at Crawford, Murphy & Tilly. “Using a data-driven, strategic approach, Lincoln Airport delivered one of the most compelling post-pandemic air service turnaround stories in the country.”
For more information, visit lincolnairport.com.