PIA - A History: Events of 1983
Events involving PIA continued their rapid pace during 1983.
The year began with the area's largest employer, Caterpillar Tractor Co., on strike. Begun October 1, 1982, it lasted nearly 30 weeks until April 24, 1983. Although the strike had ended, the company continued to suffer declining engine and machine sales. Additional layoffs were announced shortly and people telling each other, "Will the last person leaving Peoria please turn out the lights?"
And yet, passenger traffic at the Greater Peoria Airport began to grow again. Perhaps it was more a reflection of the national economy, which began showing signs of life in late 1982. Recovery continued into 1983 as inflation slowed, fuel prices declined and reduced tax rates helped fuel consumer spending and business investment. Some cite the end of fare wars that prompted travelers to drive to Chicago or St. Louis instead of flying out of Peoria.
And yet, passenger traffic at the Greater Peoria Airport began to grow again. Perhaps it was more a reflection of the national economy, which began showing signs of life in late 1982. Recovery continued into 1983 as inflation slowed, fuel prices declined and reduced tax rates helped fuel consumer spending and business investment. Some cite the end of fare wars that prompted travelers to drive to Chicago or St. Louis instead of flying out of Peoria.
Because Ozark had significantly reduced service at Peoria in 1981 and 1982, there was little left to cut in 1983. The carrier's December 15, 1982 timetable shows the following weekday departures -
Champaign-Urbana/2 flights, DC-9 (continues to STL), DC-9
Champaign-Urbana/2 flights, DC-9 (continues to STL), DC-9
Milwaukee/1 flight, DC-9
St. Louis/3 flights, DC-9 (cont. to DEN), DC-9 (cont. to COU & SGF), DC-9 (cont. to PHL)
Six departures were being maintained at the beginning of 1983. Single-plane Denver service in both directions was still being offered via St. Louis. In fact, there was a second eastbound flight at this time. One-way service to Milwaukee, offered briefly earlier in 1982, had been restored on this date. The loss of a fourth St. Louis flight via Champaign-Urbana reduced weekday departures to just five with the April 24 timetable. Also with that date, single-plane service to and from Denver was gone.
The July 1, 1983 timetable re-introduced a single-plane link with Tampa in both directions via St. Louis, though the service proved short-lived. Of course, the only offerings of real value were three* weekday roundtrips linking to Ozark's growing St. Louis hub, which offered 114 weekday departures to 37 destinations -
The July 1, 1983 timetable re-introduced a single-plane link with Tampa in both directions via St. Louis, though the service proved short-lived. Of course, the only offerings of real value were three* weekday roundtrips linking to Ozark's growing St. Louis hub, which offered 114 weekday departures to 37 destinations -
Champaign-Urbana/1 flight, DC-9
Milwaukee/1 flight, DC-9
St. Louis/3 flights, DC-9 (cont. to TPA), DC-9, DC-9 (last cont. to ATL)
*Ozark offered five weekday nonstop flights from St. Louis.
Peoria's other carriers made news in 1983. Britt Airways began the year with six weekday flights to and seven flights Chicago-O'Hare. A full seven roundtrips were in place by early May. The Terre Haute, Ind.-based airline acquired defunct Braniff International Airways' O'Hare gates and began operating from them on April 24. The arrangement would be temporary as Britt made a deal to move into Delta Air Lines' 10-gate Concourse L when it opened in April 1984 (before the move, Britt used a gate on Concourse H on an interim basis). Joint American Airlines-Britt Airways ads continued to appear in the Peoria Journal Star.
On April 24, Continental Airlines expanded service here, offering six-days-a-week service to Houston (Intercontinental) via Indianapolis on a DC-9-10. The new flights provided Peoria's first single-plane international service, with flights alternating on certain days to multiple Mexican destinations (see schedules and map below for details). It was around this time that the airline began using Boeing 727-200s on its two daily Peoria-Omaha-Denver roundtrips.
Labor-management relations at Continental Airlines deteriorated badly after former Texas Air Corp chairman, Frank Lorenzo, took the helm in 1982. Lorenzo was determined to cut costs, which created conflict with the airline's unions. On August 13, 1983 the airline's mechanics struck, forcing service cuts, including the new Peoria-Indianapolis-Houston-Mexico service. On September 24, Continental field for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and suspended all service.
Continental's bankruptcy was designed to void union contracts and reduce costs, primarily through wage reductions. The carrier began resuming some flights on September 27, but when pilots and flight attendants struck the carrier September 29 and October 1, respectively, some of these were deferred. The Peoria Journal Star reported November 10 that Continental wanted to continue leasing space at PIA, but the airline owed $23,000. It never resumed service here.
Now that both Ozark and TWA had exited the Peoria to Chicago-O'Hare market and passenger traffic was rising again, Mississippi Valley Airlines resumed service on September 15 with five weekday roundtrips (fewer on weekends) to O'Hare using Shorts 330/360 turboprops.
Rising passenger traffic prompted Trans World Airlines to use 727-200s on its Peoria flights during the summer season. Another open house was held July 3-4, displaying a Boeing 727 for public tours between 8:00am and 2:00pm on both days.
The loss of Continental Airlines prompted the Greater Peoria Airport Authority to seek a replacement carrier. The Peoria Journal Star reported October 18 that the authority expected to obtain an airline within five years offering service to an eastern hub, perhaps Cleveland or Pittsburgh. What airline would provide connections through Cleveland is unclear, though United Air Lines maintained a small hub there. USAir operated a large hub at Pittsburgh, so that carrier may have been specifically targeted for talks. Another possibility was Piedmont Airlines, which established a small hub at Dayton, Ohio in July 1982. That carrier added Champaign-Urbana to its network on April 24, 1983 so service to Peoria wasn't outside the realm of possibility.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Peoria Journal Star reported May 3 that passenger traffic grew 7% in March and April and that Runway 4-22's 300' extension to the northeast would begin in July. Overlay work on 4-22 was intended to bring it up to standard for regular use by Boeing 727s. Similar work was planned for Runway 12-30 as well.
On October 9, two USAF C-5 Galaxy's arrived PIA to load up with 182nd ANG personnel and equipment for exercises at Elgin Air Force Base in Florida. This may have been the first visit to Peoria by the giant transport.
SCHEDULES AND ROUTE MAP
PIA recorded 362,363 passengers in 1983, a 6.5% increase over 1982. Airline operations peaked September 15-23 after MVA resumed service and before Continental suspended operations. At the time, PIA could boast at least 23 weekday departures (9-Britt, 2-Continental, 5-MVA, 5-Ozark and 2-TWA). There might have been more if MVA operated Peoria to Burlington (IA) tag-ons.
The source for the schedules below, however, is the Official Airline Guide's June 1983 North American Pocket Edition.
- David P. Jordan
On April 24, Continental Airlines expanded service here, offering six-days-a-week service to Houston (Intercontinental) via Indianapolis on a DC-9-10. The new flights provided Peoria's first single-plane international service, with flights alternating on certain days to multiple Mexican destinations (see schedules and map below for details). It was around this time that the airline began using Boeing 727-200s on its two daily Peoria-Omaha-Denver roundtrips.
Labor-management relations at Continental Airlines deteriorated badly after former Texas Air Corp chairman, Frank Lorenzo, took the helm in 1982. Lorenzo was determined to cut costs, which created conflict with the airline's unions. On August 13, 1983 the airline's mechanics struck, forcing service cuts, including the new Peoria-Indianapolis-Houston-Mexico service. On September 24, Continental field for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and suspended all service.
Continental's bankruptcy was designed to void union contracts and reduce costs, primarily through wage reductions. The carrier began resuming some flights on September 27, but when pilots and flight attendants struck the carrier September 29 and October 1, respectively, some of these were deferred. The Peoria Journal Star reported November 10 that Continental wanted to continue leasing space at PIA, but the airline owed $23,000. It never resumed service here.
Now that both Ozark and TWA had exited the Peoria to Chicago-O'Hare market and passenger traffic was rising again, Mississippi Valley Airlines resumed service on September 15 with five weekday roundtrips (fewer on weekends) to O'Hare using Shorts 330/360 turboprops.
Rising passenger traffic prompted Trans World Airlines to use 727-200s on its Peoria flights during the summer season. Another open house was held July 3-4, displaying a Boeing 727 for public tours between 8:00am and 2:00pm on both days.
The loss of Continental Airlines prompted the Greater Peoria Airport Authority to seek a replacement carrier. The Peoria Journal Star reported October 18 that the authority expected to obtain an airline within five years offering service to an eastern hub, perhaps Cleveland or Pittsburgh. What airline would provide connections through Cleveland is unclear, though United Air Lines maintained a small hub there. USAir operated a large hub at Pittsburgh, so that carrier may have been specifically targeted for talks. Another possibility was Piedmont Airlines, which established a small hub at Dayton, Ohio in July 1982. That carrier added Champaign-Urbana to its network on April 24, 1983 so service to Peoria wasn't outside the realm of possibility.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Peoria Journal Star reported May 3 that passenger traffic grew 7% in March and April and that Runway 4-22's 300' extension to the northeast would begin in July. Overlay work on 4-22 was intended to bring it up to standard for regular use by Boeing 727s. Similar work was planned for Runway 12-30 as well.
On October 9, two USAF C-5 Galaxy's arrived PIA to load up with 182nd ANG personnel and equipment for exercises at Elgin Air Force Base in Florida. This may have been the first visit to Peoria by the giant transport.
SCHEDULES AND ROUTE MAP
PIA recorded 362,363 passengers in 1983, a 6.5% increase over 1982. Airline operations peaked September 15-23 after MVA resumed service and before Continental suspended operations. At the time, PIA could boast at least 23 weekday departures (9-Britt, 2-Continental, 5-MVA, 5-Ozark and 2-TWA). There might have been more if MVA operated Peoria to Burlington (IA) tag-ons.
The source for the schedules below, however, is the Official Airline Guide's June 1983 North American Pocket Edition.
- David P. Jordan
Thanks....I remember the IAH-IND-PIA flight and Mexican beach destinations by day of week. Too bad it didnt last long. I am surprised Frontier never entered the PIA market, especially after CO left in Sep 1983. FL served so many smaller midwestern markets like PIA. They also loved tags. PIA would have been perfect for them.
ReplyDeleteI agree about Frontier. They already served DSM (begun 12-1-80), MSN (10-1-81) and CID (begun 9-7-83) and would add RFD in 1985.
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