PIA - A History: A Mid-Summer 1974 Review
Recently, I obtained a copy of the Official Airline Guide's June 1974 North American Edition.
That month, Ozark Air Lines scheduled weekday 24 departures out of the Greater Peoria Airport. Compare this to 27 weekday departures in September 1973.
Among the changes...
MILWAUKEE service, begun June 9, 1953, ended January 7, 1974. Peoria's economic links to Milwaukee included the three local Pabst Brewing Co. plants and a Caterpillar Tractor Company components plant in the Beer City. But both firms owned private aircraft so business travel between the two cities via commercial airline had to be rare. Multiple stops (Moline, Rockford and Madison) were inconvenient anyway.
In September 1973, NEW YORK and WASHINGTON, DC. flights were routed,
- St. Louis-Springfield (IL)-Peoria-Champaign-Washington Dulles-New York LaGuardia
- Peoria-Champaign-Washington Dulles-New York LaGuardia
MILWAUKEE service, begun June 9, 1953, ended January 7, 1974. Peoria's economic links to Milwaukee included the three local Pabst Brewing Co. plants and a Caterpillar Tractor Company components plant in the Beer City. But both firms owned private aircraft so business travel between the two cities via commercial airline had to be rare. Multiple stops (Moline, Rockford and Madison) were inconvenient anyway.
In September 1973, NEW YORK and WASHINGTON, DC. flights were routed,
- St. Louis-Springfield (IL)-Peoria-Champaign-Washington Dulles-New York LaGuardia
- Peoria-Champaign-Washington Dulles-New York LaGuardia
- Kansas City-Moline-Peoria-Washington Dulles-New York LaGuardia
All were operated with DC-9 Series 30 jets. After the Winter 1973-1974 cutbacks, service had been reduced to two roundtrips, on smaller DC-9 Series 10 jets, originating/terminating at St. Louis.
Ozark still offered KANSAS CITY nonstops on FH-227 turboprops but jet service was limited to a one-way Chicago O'Hare-Peoria-Springfield (IL)-Kansas City route.
Interestingly, Ozark began a one-way, MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL-Cedar Rapids-Peoria (-Springfield, IL-St. Louis) route that spring. Existing same-plane service required three or four stops.
Clearly, Peoria travelers depended on connections at Chicago-O'Hare (primary) and St. Louis (secondary) to reach their destinations. Ozark Air Lines interlined with many carriers at those hubs. Chicago-O'Hare, the world's busiest airport since 1962, offered multiple international services to Canada, Europe, Japan and Mexico.
Overall, Ozark Air Lines offered Peoria good service in a heavily-regulated industry, but suspension of all scheduled flights for 77 days in spring 1973 proved intolerable. With Continental Airlines' likely entry into the Peoria market, Ozark knew it must keep favor with one of its largest stations.
All were operated with DC-9 Series 30 jets. After the Winter 1973-1974 cutbacks, service had been reduced to two roundtrips, on smaller DC-9 Series 10 jets, originating/terminating at St. Louis.
Ozark still offered KANSAS CITY nonstops on FH-227 turboprops but jet service was limited to a one-way Chicago O'Hare-Peoria-Springfield (IL)-Kansas City route.
Interestingly, Ozark began a one-way, MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL-Cedar Rapids-Peoria (-Springfield, IL-St. Louis) route that spring. Existing same-plane service required three or four stops.
Clearly, Peoria travelers depended on connections at Chicago-O'Hare (primary) and St. Louis (secondary) to reach their destinations. Ozark Air Lines interlined with many carriers at those hubs. Chicago-O'Hare, the world's busiest airport since 1962, offered multiple international services to Canada, Europe, Japan and Mexico.
Overall, Ozark Air Lines offered Peoria good service in a heavily-regulated industry, but suspension of all scheduled flights for 77 days in spring 1973 proved intolerable. With Continental Airlines' likely entry into the Peoria market, Ozark knew it must keep favor with one of its largest stations.
- David P. Jordan
thanks, this is awesome
ReplyDeletei though DEN nonstops began in 1974
ReplyDeleteOzark inaugurated one-stop Peoria-Denver service in 1975. Nonstop service began in 1977. I'll cover this in the next post of the series.
DeletePeoria's economy actually did ok in the mid 1970s. The weak dollar and high commodity prices helped both CAT and Illinois farm economy.
ReplyDeleteYes, massive grain sales to the Soviet Union in 1973 were a boon to farmers and a 1974 drought kept prices high. Caterpillar machine sales held during the 1973-1975 recession, though I'd say truck engine sales declined for a time.
Delete