CIRA Sees 12% Drop in Passenger Traffic (Updated)
I still don't have hard numbers, but this article tells us that Bloomington-Normal's Central Illinois Regional Airport suffered a 12 percent decline in passengers in 2017.
That drop means CIRA handled about 335,000 passengers last year. In 2016, it handled 381,109. Delta Connection's decision to drop Detroit service in July 2016 and the reduction of Minneapolis/St. Paul flights from one to two last year had to hurt local traffic.
That drop means CIRA handled about 335,000 passengers last year. In 2016, it handled 381,109. Delta Connection's decision to drop Detroit service in July 2016 and the reduction of Minneapolis/St. Paul flights from one to two last year had to hurt local traffic.
Director Carl Olson cites a decline in business travel for the drop. As a result, the airport is looking at air cargo as a catalyst for growth. FedEx Express, which shifted its cargo flights from Peoria to CIRA, has grown there with potential for more.
For Olson, FedEx’s growth at CIRA is an example of how other companies in the industry might find success in this area. “We sit not only within the largest population concentration in the state after the Chicago metro area, but we’re also two hours from Indianapolis, two hours from St. Louis and two-plus hours from Chicago. So if you look from a distribution standpoint, it’s a very competitive advantage.”
Rather than try to lure United Parcel Service from Peoria, it seems CIRA desires to attract distribution centers in close proximity to the airport.
[Director of marketing and communications for both the EDC and BN Advantage Zach] Dietmeier said the airport is equipped with the type of infrastructure that fulfillment and distribution centers typically seek, including site-ready property with the option to build runway and railway tie-ins. CIRA’s airfield itself was built with distribution in mind, including pavement designed to accept wide body aircraft and CAT II precision approach equipment to enhance reliability, Olson said.
Norfolk Southern Railway's Bloomington District passes just south of CIRA property so if logistics firms locating in the area need rail service, spur tracks can be extended to their facilities.
UPDATE (2-6-18): CIRA's 2017 passenger tally was 333,932 (my source, a Feb. 6 AdaptBN article, is behind a paywall so it makes no sense to link to it).
[Director of marketing and communications for both the EDC and BN Advantage Zach] Dietmeier said the airport is equipped with the type of infrastructure that fulfillment and distribution centers typically seek, including site-ready property with the option to build runway and railway tie-ins. CIRA’s airfield itself was built with distribution in mind, including pavement designed to accept wide body aircraft and CAT II precision approach equipment to enhance reliability, Olson said.
Norfolk Southern Railway's Bloomington District passes just south of CIRA property so if logistics firms locating in the area need rail service, spur tracks can be extended to their facilities.
UPDATE (2-6-18): CIRA's 2017 passenger tally was 333,932 (my source, a Feb. 6 AdaptBN article, is behind a paywall so it makes no sense to link to it).
- David P. Jordan
David, very interesting. Did you see the follow up editorial from the article you linked? https://www.adaptbn.com/home/2018/2/6/editorial-declining-traffic-at-cira-is-a-cause-for-concern
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned UPS. I would not put it past them to try stealing that away too. They have a history of that and in a current position where they have to try building that business up. If you look in the editorial link, they specifically mention PIA a couple of times as being the regional competitor. Anything they can take from PIA they will do it if they can.
Have to wonder if they can succeed in building the area up for more logistics. When you look a little over an hour north, along the I-80 corridor between I-39 and I-55, there has been quite a bit of activity there with new logistics development and it seems to be growing. I would imagine the closer proximity to Chicago could be the advantage there.
I saw the followup and updated this post with the actual passenger figure.
DeleteI wouldn't put it past CIRA to try to lure UPS, but that carrier handles Caterpillar's heavy parts business. I don't believe CIRA is equipped to handle A-300s or 767-300s either. FedEx's move, while frustrating, makes sense because State Farm is (or was) its largest shipper in the region.