Peoria Int'l Airport Air Service Detail & Analysis - December 2020

Although events of 2020 were sad (and arguably unnecessary), I decided to do my annual analysis of airline service at the Peoria International Airport. 

Normally, I pick June or July for this annual post. With the year nearly concluded, I decided that the week of December 13-19 was best for this analysis. There were even a few surprises, mostly related to the expected surge in holiday traffic. Changes by each carrier serving Peoria in 2020 are detailed below. 

 ALLEGIANT AIR

In mid-January, this Las Vegas-based carrier announced seasonal, twice-weekly nonstops to Nashville, Tennessee would start June 4. Given subsequent events, it is surprising Allegiant Air went ahead and started the new route! Load factors must have been more than satisfactory. Service was slated to end in November, but it apparently got extended into December. 

Recently, the season was extended yet again from December 19 through January 2. I couldn't find schedules for December 19, so I'm unsure if the flight was already sold out or the carrier cancelled service on that date. The next flights are shown on December 23 (Wednesday) and December 26 (Saturday). Another operates December 30. 

This week, Allegiant Air maintains nonstops to Las Vegas (Monday/Friday), Orlando-Sanford (Saturday), Phoenix-Mesa (Thursday/Sunday), Punta Gorda/Fort Myers (Monday/Friday/Saturday) and St. Petersburg/Clearwater (Thursday/Friday). Nonstops to Destin/Fort Walton Beach are seasonal. I have denoted most of these being operated with A-320s, some are on A-319s. Substitutions for each are likely from time to time. 

For the following two weeks, Allegiant expands Orlando-Sanford nonstops on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Phoenix-Mesa flights expanded to thrice-weekly though on varying days. Likewise, Punta Gorda/Fort Myers service increases to four weekly with flights on Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. 

Despite the virus panic, it apears Allegiant Air has sufficient traffic to continue all regular routes, albeit at reduced frequency at times. 

AMERICAN EAGLE (Envoy Airlines, Mesa Airlines, PSA Airlines) 

Although American Eagle carriers maintain all routes flown pre-virus panic, frequencies have been cut. PSA Airlines operates Remain-Over-Night (RON) from Charlotte daily. A late-morning turnaround operates Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday. All are flown on 65- or 67-seat CRJ700 equipment.  Envoy Airlines operates a mid-afternoon turnaround from Chicago-O'Hare using a 50-seat Embraer 145. Mesa Airlines at least maintains two daily roundtrips between Peoria and Dallas/Fort Worth. All flights are operated with 76-seat CRJ900 equipment. Most flight times change effective Thursday, December 17. 

Pre-virus panic, American Eagle carriers provided two nonstops daily to Charlotte, three to Chicago-O'Hare and two to Dallas/Fort Worth for a total of seven. Daily flights now average just four or five per day. At least the carrier's cutbacks weren't as devasting as the others.

DELTA CONNECTION (Endeavour Air)

The six-days-a-week nonstop service to Minneapolis/St. Paul apparently ended in April. Atlanta nonstops were cut from thrice daily to just one Monday through Friday, to comply with CARES Act funds. At the end of the month, the carrier asked the Department of Transportation (DOT) to reduce service to less than five days a week. Before one could take a deep breath, Delta requested permission to drop Peoria from its route map. Permission was granted late in May. Temporary cessation of service began July 6 and ended September 30. Suspension was likely extended. In early December, it was announced the cessation was permanent. 

The most frustrating part of this is that Delta Connection maintains nonstop service to Atlanta from Bloomington-Normal's Central Illinois Regional Airport. It also resumed Detroit service from there in October to support growing business travel generated by Rivian Automotive, Inc. 

Peoria Int'l Airport officials are determined to lure Delta back, hoping for a necessary revival of business travel. This time, it may be more difficult, given American Eagle's successful Peoria-Charlotte service. 

UNITED EXPRESS (Air Wisconsin, Republic Airways)

Last January, United Express announced plans to deploy larger jets on some of its Peoria to Chicago-O'Hare flights. A 70-seat Embraer 170 was to begin flying here on a temporary basis in mid-February. It is unclear how long this lasted. In early April, United Express carriers reduced flights and even asked DOT for permission to drop Peoria. Fortunately for Peoria, the bid was denied. 

Presently, Air Wisconsin offers one daily roundtrip on a 50-seat CRJ200. On December 17-18, however, Republic Airways takesover with a RON flight using a 76-seat Embraer 175. No doubt this deployment is for the holiday travel surge. 

AIR CARGO

Peoria remains a stop for UPS freighters flying between Louisville, Kentucky and Rockford, Illinois hubs four or five times a week. Boeing 757s and Airbus A-300s have been noted equipment operating these flights this month. 

THE FUTURE

Airport officials aren't giving up. Last September, it was announced that $1.1 million had been received for design work on terminal apron expansion and strengthening part of Runway 4-22. The apron expansion will accommodate bigger jets. The runway project supports large United Parcel Service  freighters. Such projects support long-term commitments to maintaining commercial air service. Each time the facility gets whacked with another cutback, airport officials always insist they desire to see restored all what has been lost. 

What will it take? Media-induced panic must end. Restrictions and mask-mandates must end. Life must return to normal. Only then can Peoria's business travel market (read: "Caterpillar") return to anything resembling 2019 or early 2020. If that happens - and it can do so rapidly during 2021 - then look for airlines to resume more flight frequencies. And who knows...Delta Connection might even return for competitive reasons! 

Below is a schedule and route map detailing local air service for this week. Allegiant Air routes to Nashville and Destin/Fort Walton Beach are seasonal. I can't claim 100 percent accuracy, but did my best. 

- David P. Jordan