Peoria Int'l Airport Releases 2022 Stats!



Peoria International Airport passenger traffic continued a nice recovery in 2022. 

The Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria released its statistics close to the usual time this year, so we learn that in 2022 the local airfield handled 573,911 passengers. That number is well short of 2019's record 689,416 but far better than the 326,861 handled in 2020 and 480,006 in 2021. Now that almost all COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, rising traffic should continue in 2023 if fuel price shock doesn't crash demand like it threatened to do for much of last year. 

But the airline industry continues to suffer from pilot shortages, a trend that has been especially hard on small communities like Peoria. Last year's passenger numbers reflect a vibrant leisure travel market thanks to Allegiant Air. 

Besides the pilot shortage, retirement of the older 50-seat regional jets and avoidance of unnecessary  business travel will continue to limit offerings by American Eagle and United Express in the forseeable future. Delta Connection is unlikely to resume service here until competitive pressures require it. That may happen some day, but not soon. 

Air freight volume increased as well. Last year's 21.9 million pounds shows a rising trend over 2021's 20 million pounds an 2020s 17 million. Almost all of that can be attributed to United Parcel Service, which offers service five days a week in each direction on a Louisville-Peoria-Rockford routing. 

- David P. Jordan

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