Omaha -- Nebraska's largest city and home to Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway -- is a Midwestern powerhouse with the nation's top-rated zoo, a vibrant Old Market district, world-class steakhouses, and the annual College World Series. Eppley Airfield (OMA) is served by Southwest, American, Delta, and United with direct routes across the US.
FareOptic compares all carriers at OMA to find the cheapest available fare to Omaha -- and remember to check Southwest.com separately, as Southwest doesn't appear on most aggregators.








*All above fares are one way/round trip. Fares incl. all fuel surcharges, taxes & fees and our service fees. Displayed fares are subject to change and cannot be guaranteed at the time of booking. See all booking terms and conditions.
Based on popular routes and current airfare deals
Berkshire Hathaway, Henry Doorly Zoo, Old Market, SAC Museum, College World Series, and Nebraska prime beef
The Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting -- held every May at the CHI Health Center in downtown Omaha -- is the single most attended corporate annual meeting in the world: approximately 40,000 shareholders from 50+ countries descend on Omaha for a weekend that has been called 'The Woodstock of Capitalism.' Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger (until his death in 2023) would answer unscreened questions from shareholders for 5-6 hours in the morning session, followed by an afternoon product fair featuring Berkshire subsidiaries (See's Candy, Fruit of the Loom, GEICO, Brooks Running, Dairy Queen). Hotel rooms in Omaha sell out a year in advance for Berkshire weekend; flights during that weekend command a significant premium.
Warren Buffett returned to Omaha in 1956 (after working for Benjamin Graham in New York) and has never left, despite managing what became the 5th largest company in the world by market capitalization from a modest office on Farnam Street. Buffett has been explicit about why: Omaha's distance from Wall Street's noise and culture allows him to think long-term without the pressure of constantly having to explain his positions to the financial media. The Omaha location has also shaped Berkshire's culture -- the annual meeting's accessibility and Buffett's Midwestern directness are inseparable from the city's character.
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium -- rated the #1 zoo in the United States by TripAdvisor and consistently in the top 5 worldwide -- is the city's most visited attraction and one of the finest zoological institutions in the world: the world's largest indoor desert (the Desert Dome), the world's largest indoor rainforest (Lied Jungle, 1.5 acres under a glass dome), one of the world's largest cat complexes (Kingdoms of the Night features a nocturnal house and free-flight aviary), and a world-class aquarium. The zoo's conservation and breeding programs for endangered species are among the most respected in the zoological community.
Henry Doorly Zoo's rise to world-class status was driven primarily by private philanthropy: the Durham family (newspaper and cattle), the Scott family, and dozens of other Omaha civic foundations that funded the Desert Dome ($31.5M, 2002), Lied Jungle ($15M, 1992), and subsequent world-record exhibits. The zoo is named for Henry Doorly (son-in-law of the Omaha World-Herald's publisher) and has been operated as a nonprofit since 1952. Its success reflects a pattern of Omaha civic philanthropy -- funded by the wealth of agricultural, financial (Berkshire), and telecommunications (Union Pacific, ConAgra headquarters) industries -- that has given a city of 500,000 world-class cultural institutions.
Omaha's Old Market -- a 10-block restored warehouse district of late-Victorian red-brick buildings in the city's historic commercial core -- is the city's primary arts, dining, and entertainment district. Cobblestone streets, independent art galleries, boutique shops, and a concentration of Omaha's best restaurants make the Old Market the most walkable and atmospheric part of the city. The Passageway (an underground tunnel and skyway system connecting Old Market buildings) adds a distinctive architectural character.
Omaha's restaurant scene is one of America's most underrated relative to its size: the city has a higher concentration of steakhouses per capita than almost any other US city (the local beef industry creates exceptional supply chain access), a growing immigrant restaurant community (Sudanese, Mexican, Vietnamese), and a James Beard-nominated chef community centered on the Old Market. The Omaha steakhouse tradition -- Gorat's (Buffett's favorite), Mahogany Prime, Cascio's -- represents genuine quality at Midwestern prices 30-50% below comparable New York or Chicago steakhouses.
The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum -- located 30 miles west of Omaha near Offutt Air Force Base in Ashland, Nebraska -- contains one of the most important Cold War aviation collections in the United States: SR-71 Blackbird, B-52 Stratofortress, B-36 Peacemaker, U-2 spy plane, and dozens of other aircraft and missiles from the Strategic Air Command era (1946-1992). SAC, headquartered at Offutt AFB (10 miles south of OMA), was the command responsible for America's land-based and airborne nuclear deterrent throughout the Cold War -- the bombers and missiles that made nuclear deterrence work. The museum tells this story with exceptional artifacts and context.
Offutt Air Force Base -- 10 miles south of downtown Omaha, where President George W. Bush flew on September 11, 2001 after the attacks -- remains the headquarters of US Strategic Command (STRATCOM), which controls America's nuclear arsenal. The base has been the home of nuclear command and control since SAC's founding in 1946, when Curtis LeMay chose it for its central location (equidistant from both coasts) and the fact that it was already a major airfield. Today STRATCOM's mission has expanded to include cyber warfare, space operations, and missile defense in addition to nuclear deterrence, making Offutt one of the most strategically significant military installations in the world despite its Midwestern location.
Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting weekend (first Saturday of May) is the most demand-constrained travel period in Omaha's calendar: 40,000 visitors, every hotel within 50 miles fully booked, and flight prices 3-5x baseline. If you're attending, set calendar reminders to book as soon as the date is announced (typically November-December of the prior year). No other weekend in Omaha comes close to this demand spike.
Southwest Airlines is Omaha's largest carrier and does not appear on Google Flights, Kayak, or other aggregators. Always check Southwest.com directly to see OMA fares fully. Southwest's no-change-fee policy is especially practical for Omaha's agricultural and energy travelers whose schedules shift with commodity markets.
Henry Doorly Zoo's crowds peak on summer weekends (June-August) and school holiday periods. Weekday mornings (especially Tuesday-Thursday) offer the best experience in the Desert Dome and Lied Jungle -- the zoo's signature indoor habitats. Buy tickets online in advance; the zoo sells out on major summer holidays.
Eppley Airfield (OMA) is 5 miles northeast of downtown Omaha -- approximately 10-15 minutes by car without traffic. Rideshares from OMA to downtown run $12-20. Car rentals are available at the airport and recommended if you plan to visit the SAC Museum (30 miles west), Offutt AFB area, or the Platte River valley parks.
Southwest Airlines operates the highest frequency of any carrier at Eppley Airfield (OMA), with nonstops from Chicago Midway (MDW), Dallas Love Field (DAL), Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), Orlando (MCO), Phoenix (PHX), and Baltimore (BWI). Southwest's no-change-fee policy suits Omaha's agricultural and corporate travel market, where commodity price swings can necessitate last-minute schedule changes.
MDW to OMA (1h 10m nonstop); DAL to OMA (1h 45m nonstop); DEN to OMA (1h 30m nonstop); LAS to OMA (2h 30m nonstop); MCO to OMA (2h 45m nonstop); LAX to OMA (3h nonstop)
American Airlines serves Omaha from its Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Chicago O'Hare (ORD) hubs, plus Charlotte (CLT) and Phoenix (PHX). The ORD-OMA route is particularly popular with Chicago-area travelers heading to Omaha for Berkshire Hathaway's Annual Meeting (held every May, the largest shareholder meeting in the world). American's DFW hub provides connections across the Americas for Omaha travelers.
DFW to OMA (1h 45m nonstop); ORD to OMA (1h 15m nonstop); CLT to OMA (2h 30m nonstop); PHX to OMA (2h 15m nonstop)
Delta Air Lines serves Eppley Airfield from Atlanta (ATL) and Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP) -- MSP being the most geographically natural hub for Omaha, as the Twin Cities are the nearest major Delta hub at 400 miles north. Delta also operates service from Salt Lake City (SLC) and Detroit (DTW) to OMA. The ATL connection is the primary gateway for Delta international passengers connecting through the world's busiest airline hub.
ATL to OMA (2h nonstop); MSP to OMA (1h nonstop); SLC to OMA (2h nonstop); DTW to OMA (1h 30m nonstop)
United Airlines connects Omaha to its Denver (DEN) and Chicago O'Hare (ORD) hubs, plus Washington Dulles (IAD) for government and federal contractor travel to Offutt Air Force Base (headquarters of US Strategic Command, 10 miles south of OMA). United's DEN hub provides the fastest connection to West Coast and international Star Alliance routes for Omaha travelers.
DEN to OMA (1h 30m nonstop); ORD to OMA (1h 15m nonstop); IAD to OMA (2h 20m nonstop)
Nebraska (NE)
OMA — Eppley Airfield
USD — US Dollar
CST (UTC-6) / CDT (UTC-5) in summer
~490,000 city; 970,000 metro
Henry Doorly Zoo, Old Market, Berkshire Hathaway HQ, SAC Museum (30 min), Joslyn Art Museum, Durham Museum, College World Series (June)
Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, Omaha Steaks, College World Series, Henry Doorly Zoo (#1 in US)
911
Best Airlines for Domestic & International Routes
Everything you need to know about booking cheap flights to Omaha, Nebraska (OMA)
Eppley Airfield (IATA: OMA) serves Omaha. The airport is located 5 miles (8 km) northeast of downtown -- approximately 10-15 minutes by car. Airlines serving OMA include Southwest (largest carrier), American, Delta, and United. Eppley Airfield is a mid-size regional airport with minimal congestion and short security wait times.
Omaha is known for Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway (headquarters in Omaha since 1956, annual meeting draws 40,000 visitors), Henry Doorly Zoo (consistently rated #1 in the US), the College World Series (NCAA Division I baseball championship, held in Omaha each June), the Old Market entertainment district, Omaha Steaks (the direct-to-consumer beef brand), and Offutt Air Force Base (headquarters of US Strategic Command).
Omaha earned its 'Gateway to the West' designation because it was the eastern terminus of the First Transcontinental Railroad (completed 1869) and the jumping-off point for westward migration on the Mormon Trail and Oregon Trail. The city's position on the Missouri River -- the boundary between the settled East and the frontier West -- made it the natural starting point for wagon trains and later rail travel. Today the Union Pacific Railroad (still headquartered in Omaha) maintains the city's historic role as a rail logistics hub.
Best weather: September-October (mild, 55-75°F / 13-24°C, fall foliage). Best for events: May (Berkshire Hathaway Meeting, book far in advance), June (College World Series). Best for wildlife: March (sandhill crane migration at the Platte River, 90 miles west -- 500,000 cranes stop in Nebraska annually). Avoid: January-February (severe cold, -10 to 20°F / -23 to -7°C possible). Summer (June-August) is hot and humid but the zoo and outdoor events are at peak.
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