Finally...Peoria Airport Passenger Volume in 2020!


Peoria International Airport handled 326,861 passengers in 2020. 

The year 2021 is almost over, but I only noticed this moments ago in the statistics area on the Peoria International Airport's website. I have no idea when it was posted. Normally, the most recent annual passenger (and cargo) traffic stats are released by mid-January of the following year. I don't recall this information appearing in a press release or local media. 

Suffice if to say, COVID-19 restrictions devastated local airline traffic and service. The local airport handled 689,416 passengers in 2019. So 2020 figures represent a 52.6 percent decline. It may take a long time to recover, if that is possible. 

It must be possible, as that is the only hope we have. Delta Connection ended its Atlanta nonstops last year, emphasizing service out of Bloomington-Normal instead. But in May, PIA officials met with the carrier asking for service restoration. If and when the covid scare concludes, and business travel returns to normal, the airline may well bring back this service. 

American Eagle's service levels have not changed since my analysis last July. 

- Charlotte - two daily departures on 65-seat CRJ700s
- Chicago-O'Hare - two daily departures on 50-seat Embraer 145s
- Dallas/Fort Worth - two daily departures on 76-seat CRJ900s. 

United Express continues to maintain two daily roundtrips between Peoria and Chicago-O'Hare using 50-seat CRJ200s.

At least Allegiant Air has been adding new destinations since 2020 - Nashville, Denver and Sarasota/Bradenton. Beginning Wednesday, Fort Lauderdale flights return after nearly 14 years. The Las Vegas-based Low Cost Carrier now offers Peoria ten nonstop destinations, either year-round or on a seasonal basis. 

- David P. Jordan

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