General Impression:
Usually when I go to a new airport, I research it before leaving. This time with OKC I simply didn’t have the time to do so. I was expecting to find some small, worn, weathered facility that had clearly seen better days during the golden era of aviation. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the facilities at OKC. While the main terminal is narrow, two stories of windows on the boarding side make the facility seem much larger and more open than it actually is. This is by no means a busy airport, a single MD-88 is enough to cause crowding in a good third of the concourse. Don’t expect anything in this airport to happen fast. Although there is a pleasant food-court area, expect to wait on average 20-25 minutes at a fast-food joint here.
Facilities:
While the facilities are in remarkably good condition (this airport rivals DTW in terms of cleanliness and upkeep), the passenger hold areas are lacking in size. Most of the time this isn’t a problem as this is a quiet, slow-paced airport. However if several flights are departing at roughly the same time it can get rather cramped quickly. The terminal has an off-shoot concourse where United, American and Frontier fly out of which is pretty quiet and does not receive much traffic. It’s a nice quiet place to go and wait for your flight.
An interesting curved terminal design that gives the impression of a larger interior space than there actually is.
Exceptionally clean and modern appearing facilities. Note the authority office on the mezzanine level.
OKC has two of these old-style flight information displays in the concourse. They serve to remind the public that OKC is old enough that it’s first jet-service was operated with a TWA Convair CV-880.
Commemorative placards giving some of the airport’s history.
Security at OKC. The airport was constructed before most modern screen equipment was invented. So what was once a main entrance and open-space is taken up by luggage and passenger screening equipment.
- OKC’s cargo concourse is an extension of the main passenger terminal’s first level.
WiFi:
WiFi is available here, however it is provided through Boingo (which is a pay service). This is rather surprising as most of the airports of equivalent size that I have been to have free WiFi provided. If you have AT&T, don’t expect a good data connection through that either, my phone was searching for service, or had a single bar of signal strength the entire time I was there.
Power:
Although the facilities have been updated and appear modern, this airport is not modern insofar as access to electrical outlets is concerned. If you’re lucky you’ll find a power outlet in a wall near your gate to charge your laptop, tablet or phone.
Lounge:
While there aren’t any airline-affiliated lounges here, Bar 1907 does have its own lounge, which is rather quiet, and a nice place to go to sit down with your laptop and get some work done.
Plane Spotting:
While OKC is not an active airport, it does have a superb view of the airfield thanks to its plethora of windows.
Restaurants:
The food-court offers familiar fast food chains that operate at a not-so-fast pace. Sonic, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and Schlotzky’s are all in the food court and operated by the same service provider, so don’t expect one to be any faster than the other. Bar 1907 is just a bar and does not offer any food service.
Shops:
OKC does have an assortment of the usual airport shops, including CNN newsroom at which just about anything that you might need on your journey can be purchased.
Terminal Diagram:
OKC terminal diagram.
Overall impression:
OKC’s facilities are maintained to the highest standard this should be a model airport for other airports of its size (in terms of passenger facilities). It makes effective and efficient use of the rather limited space within the terminal and it is the most pleasant medium-sized airport I have been to. The only negatives are slight inconveniences to an experienced traveler such as myself that likes to remain connected to the world at all times. WiFi within airports ought to be provided free of charge as it is at many coffee shops and other public locations around the globe, or at the very least be seamlessly integrated with the paid WiFi services provided by the airlines. That, however is a rant for another place and another time. OKC is a refreshing sight when compared to most of the airport facilities in this country which have clearly seen better days.
Gates: 17
Elevation: 1295ft
Runways: 4
Rwy 17L/35R:
9802x150ft
Approach lighting: MALSR 1,400ft medium intensity (17L), ALSF2 2,400ft high intensity (35R)
Approach: ILS/DME
RWY 17R/35L:
9800x150ft
Approach lighting: MALSR 1,400ft medium intensity both directions.
Approach: ILS/DME
RWY 13/31:
7800x150ft
4-light PAPI indicator with 3deg glide slope both directions.
No ILS
RWY 18/36:
3078x75ft
No ILS/approach lighting.
Average aircraft operations: 354/day
The Traveler's Guide to Airports 