Lincoln airline Red Way says ticket sales are soaring

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Lincoln Airport’s new airline, Red Way, said it saw a 300% increase in ticket sales in its first two weeks of operation.

From its launch on March 30 to June 8, the day of the first flight, it sold about 1,000 tickets a week.

In its first two weeks of flying, it sold 6,000 tickets, about 3,000 a week. 

The Lincoln Airport Authority said even though it’s too soon to have exact numbers, having more flights helps boost the local economy.

Spokeswoman Rachel Barth said the goal is to bring people from other areas of the state so they will use local hotels, restaurants and more. 

Red Way CEO Nickolas Wangler said that in the coming weeks, the airline will have a better view of the new flights’ impact on the economy. 

But Wangler said we are already seeing some direct effects. 

“Between the airport staff, there’s been 30 people plus hired locally at the airport to handle the flights,” Wangler said. 

He said customers and flight crew members are staying at local hotels and eating at local restaurants.

The airline expects to reach 26,000 tickets sold by the end of the week. 

“It obviously helps us with parking revenue, helps us with people eating inside the terminals, using our services,” Barth said.

The agency Executive Travel said it is grateful the city stepped forward with the project, as Lincoln needs the service.

But Chairman Steve Glenn still have some concerns. 

“Our numbers showed that offering so many cities probably is not sustainable,” he said. “We anticipate that in six months from now, we’ll probably see half as many cities being serviced out of Lincoln.” 

Wangler said the current destinations will be the same until November.