PIA - A History: Booming Traffic, Jets on the Horizon (1964-1965)

September 03, 2017

The last post in this series dealt with the loss of both Trunk Airlines and the adequacy of the remaining carrier, Ozark Air Lines, to provide quality service for local air travelers. In terms of service, capacity and rising passenger traffic, it appears Ozark succeeded.

In early 1964, Airport Director DeWitt Collins told the Greater Peoria Airport Authority that flights to New York and Washington, DC were possible, and consideration was being made for a new 6000' crosswind runway that was needed for jet service (Runway 12-30 already had 7000', plus 1000' overrun, but if closed for construction or weather, another jet-capable runway was needed to avoid having jet flights suspended).

TWA AND PEORIA

Jet service was possible at an earlier date had Trans World Airlines resumed service here. The carrier's service suspension eff. April 24, 1960 was for two years, and the carrier failed to file for an extension or a permanent suspension in 1962. In March 1964, the Civil Aeronautics Board suggested TWA file to drop Peoria permanently from its certificate. The carrier did this in April that year but the following month, the Peoria Journal Star suggested it might resume service. Although TWA's local ticket office was busier in 1964 than when the carrier actually served the city, feeder service by Ozark Air Lines to TWA flights at Chicago-O'Hare and St. Louis was deemed adequate. In February 1965 the carrier dropped its option to serve Peoria.

Had TWA resumed service to Peoria in 1965, most likely with nonstop service to both Chicago-O'Hare and Kansas City, the smallest aircraft available were venerable Lockheed Constellations, recently bumped from primary trunk routes by Boeing 707s and Convair 880s. Douglas DC-9s would have been available from 1966, however. It should be noted that TWA did bring a brand-new Boeing 727-100 to Peoria October 4, 1964 which it used to fly two 45-minute trips for local business leaders.

OZARK AIR LINES GROWS AND GROWS

In the summer of 1964, Ozark Air Lines made public that it was studying the Douglas DC-9. Meanwhile, the airline made a deal with Mohawk Airlines to trade/lease 14 Martin 404s in exchange for Ozark's five Convair 240s. The additional aircraft were intended to replace Douglas DC-3s which Ozark had used since starting service in 1950. According to the 11/12/64 Peoria Journal Star, the 44-seat Martins entered service December 1 on a Peoria-Moline-Milwaukee route (among others).

In January 1965, Ozark ordered three 68-seat DC-9s, adding three more in July. The first of these were scheduled for delivery by mid-1966. In November 1965, Ozark ordered three stretched 98-seat DC-9-30s as well as 21 48-seat Fairchild-Hiller FH-227 turboprops, which would replace the 40-seat F-27s and 44-seat Martin 404s.

With jet service confirmed for the near future, the Greater Peoria Airport Authority proceeded with plans to extend Runway 4-22. Presently 3677' in length, plans were underway to extend it to 4600', but it needed to be at least 6000' to accommodate jetliners.

OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds performed at an airshow held here May 29-30, 1964. The team still used F-100 Super Sabres at this time.

U. S. Senator Hubert H. Humphrey, and Democratic Party nominee for vice-president flew into Peoria October 20, 1964 in a Lockheed L-188 Electra turboprop named The Happy Warrior. President Lyndon B. Johnson flew here for a campaign stop on October 7, 1964. This was probably Peoria's first ever visit by a Boeing 707 designated as "Air Force One." (There were actually two 707s here for the occasion.)

PASSENGER BOOM

In 1964, the Greater Peoria Airport handled 143,277 passengers, a 16.5 percent increase over 1963 (119,723). Traffic jumped nearly 20 percent to 177,831 passengers in 1965. While some DC-3 service remained during 1965, most flights here were operated with larger Martin 404 or F-27 aircraft so additional seating capacity reflects rapidly rising passenger traffic. Ozark Air Lines' Oct. 31-Nov. 26, 1965 timetable is the source for the schedule below. On weekdays, the airline offered 26 departures. Also see route map.