Peoria Station

On July 11, the Federal Aviation Administration extended its Chicago-O'Hare flight cap for another year. Central Illinois media took nearly two weeks to report the effects on United Express service to Bloomington-Normal and Champaign-Urbana.  As expected, United Express must delay service to both cities by at least another year. Before the flight cap extension, four daily roundtrips were slated to begin on October 24.  Bloomington-Normal's WGLT 89.1 FM radio reported the story here . Champaign-Urbana's WCIA Channel 3 reported the story for its viewers here .  It seems that the FAA's flight cap will prevent service from starting to either city, and there is no longer a start date. The previous delays were frustrating to CIRA, as signage, staffing and ticketing were ready for the start of service when originally set to start on May 7.  - David P. Jordan 

I searched and can't find a prior post on this, so I'll do one now.  I found a WGLT 89.1 FM web article on CIRA's 2025 performance. It was posted on February 13 .  Director Carl Olson told WGLT's Charlie Schlenker that his facility handled about 325,000 passengers last year. This is a slight decline from 2024 (329,648) and 2023 (334,888).  But at the time of Olson's interview, CIRA's future looked bright, and that recent airline service announcements pointed to growth. He cited strong load factores in the upper 80s and lower 90s, and hoped new service for the spring of 2026 - Allegiant Air to Phoenix-Mesa, a 3rd daily Atlanta frequency on Delta Connection and new service by United Express (four daily Chicago-O'Hare roundtrips) - would keep fares down.  Unfortunately, the Federal Aviation Administration's decision to cap Chicago-O'Hare flights from May 17 through October 23 this year will stunt CIRA's growth in 2026. It may grow, but not as much. ...

As expected, the Federal Aviation Administration's cap on flights at Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, effective from May 17 until October 24, will delay introduction of United Express service to both Bloomington-Normal and Champaign-Urbana.  Both Central Illinois cities were to receive service by the airline - four roundtrips daily - starting May 7 and April 30, respectively. Champaign-Urbana's flights were already delayed to June 1. Now, both routes will begin on October 24, the day flight caps end.  Confirmation of the delay for United Express service out of Champaign-Urbana's Willard Airport can be found here.  for Bloomington-Normal's Central Illinois Regional Airport, see here .  - David P Jordan

United Express announced today that it will be linking both Champaign-Urbana and Bloomington-Normal with four daily roundtrips to Chicago-O'Hare starting April 30 and May 7, respectively. Champaign-Urbana media has been quick to post online stories. Look for an update later today. UPDATE: Central Illinois Regional Airport last had United Express service to Chicago-O'Hare in 2008. FM Radio 89.1 WGLT has a story here . Champaign-Urbana's local CBS affiliate, WCIA TV-3 has a story here . The expansion is part of an escalating war between American Airlines and United Airlines at Chicago-O'Hare International Airport over gates and dominance. Whether this big increase in capacity for Central Illinois air travelers is sustainable is a big question. Fares will come down and traffic will be stimulated at both airports, but how long it lasts depends on whether these services are profitable, or at least losses are minimal but the flights provide profitable feed to long haul domes...

Peoria International Airport handled 741,724 passengers through November of this year, breaking the 2019 all-time record of 689,416 with one month still to go.   An article posted online today by WEEK TV-25 notes that PIA has broken passenger records for 14 of the last 16 months.  This post will be expanded and updated later this evening.  UPDATE In November 2025, PIA handled 62,474 passengers, which was the 14th record for the past 16 months. December's tally need only be 58,276 to reach the 800,000 mark for the first time. So this year, not only did it break 700,000 for the first time, there is the possibilty that it will also break 800,000!  If it does not reach 800,000 for the full year, it will be very close, and this means that passenger traffic will be up some 14 percent over 2024.  Passenger traffic will continue to grow in 2026, but not at the pace seen in 2025. Why? Because PIA's 2025 gains aren't likely to be matched in 2025. United Express increased...

Bloomington-Normal is on a role. Radio station WGLT 89.1 FM is reporting that Delta Connection will resume a third daily nonstop to Atlanta on March 8, 2026. Online schedules show departures at 0600, 1200 and 1559 on that date. Flights are operated by Endeavor Air's 76-seat CRJ900s. The airport authority has been trying to persuade the carrier to restore the third frequency, dropped during the COVID-19 lockdown. Rivian Automotive's decision to resume work on its Stanton Springs, Georgia plant might be a factor in Delta Connection's decision to increase service, though the easing pilot shortage and softening fuel prices most certainly play into this decision. After Allegiant Air's twice-weekly nonstop service to Phoenix-Mesa, slated to start February 13, Delta Connection's increased Atlanta service is the second new air service announcement in a week. These announcements will increase service out of Central Illinois Regional Airport to 7 to 9 daily, depending on...

A look at Allegiant Air's schedules show that Bloomington-Normal's Central Illinois Regional Airport is getting Phoenix-Mesa nonstops on Mondays and Fridays beginning February 13, 2026. The new service out of CIRA apparently does not appear to cannabilize Peoria's existing service. Starting February 17, PIA gets Tuesday flights in addition to Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. And business over the upcoming holiday periods requires nonstops daily from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1 and also Dec. 17-Jan. 5! - David P. Jordan

I found 2024 passenger stats for Bloomington-Normal's Central Illinois Regional Airport! Radio station WGLT 89.1 FM posted a story May 27 with lots of good detail. Last year, CIRA recorded 165,701 enplanements and 163,947 deplanements for a total of 329,648. In 2023, these figures were 167,597 and 167,291, respectively, for a total of 334,888. So CIRA saw only a slight decline in traffic last year. One wonders, though, if continued commercial airline operations are sustainable. CIRA has never recovered after losing AirTran Airways in 2012. Southwest Airlines, which acquired AirTran, decided that CIRA did not fit into its plans. Capacity was cut and low-fare connections via an Atlanta hub ended.  What CIRA has going for it is Delta Connection nonstops to Atlanta, two roundtrips daily, on 76-seat CRJ900 equipment operated by SkyWest Airlines. This service draws travelers from through the Central Illinois region, including Peoria. Moline/Quad Cities is the only other Illinois facilit...

Air Wisconsin's recent decision to leave the American Eagle network will mean changes at both Peoria and Bloomington/Normal airports early next month. Presently, Air Wisconsin offers a Remain-Overnight (RON) service, arriving in the evening from Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, with a return departure the next morning. A 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 is being used. Envoy Airlines provides a late-afternoon turnaround from Chicago-O'Hare on 65-seat Embraer 170 equipment.  Air Wisconsin operates its final departure the morning of April 3. The April 3/4 RON will be operated by a 76-seat Envoy Airlines Embraer 175. Then, on April 4, SkyWest Airlines takes over all service, offering three daily roundtrips using Bombardier CRJ700 equipment with 65 seats. This means not only an increase in frequency, but also a significant increase in seating capacity.  American Eagle service between Chicago-O'Hare and Bloomington-Normal's Central Illinois Regional Airport (CIRA) includes ...

I thought to look at Central Illinois Regional Airport's statistics page just now, and found 2023 figures.  The facility serving Bloomington-Normal handled 167,597 enplanements and 167,291 deplanements for a total of 334,888 passengers. Air cargo volume was 11.6 million pounds.  Given the limit number of frequencies to Atlanta (Delta Connection), Chicago-O'Hare (American Eagle), Dallas/Ft. Worth (American Eagle) and seasonal Allegiant Air (Orlando-Sanford and St. Petersburg/Clearwater) and Frontier Airlines (Denver) services, I would guess load factors were pretty good.  CIRA may be ripe for expanded frequencies or new service.  - David P. Jordan

In 2002, the Greater Peoria Regional Airport regained its status as Central Illinois' busiest air passenger facility. That was the good news, but the storm clouds of uncertainty, continuing security concerns and turmoil in the airline industry continued to plague the outlook for local airline service. Let's review airline service changes which occurred that year.  AMERICAN CONNECTION (Trans States Airlines) At the start of 2002, this carrier offered seven weekday departures to St. Louis. Traffic was recovering post-9/11, so it resumed an eighth on January 8. April schedules show a ninth had been added, though newspaper coverage in late-June indicates service had been reduced to seven again. Frequency was brought back up to nine roundtrips on September 4. These flights operated with a mix of 68-seat ATR-72, 48-seat ATR-42 and 29-seat Jetstream 41 turboprops.  AMERICAN EAGLE (American Eagle Airlines) When 2002 began, weekday departures to Chicago-O'Hare totaled four. Passenge...

I overlooked this one, which was announced September 28 .  Frontier Airlines is offering nonstop service to Tampa International Airport in Florida beginning December 17. Flights will be operating Mondays and Fridays.  Interestingly, this new service appears to be offered year-round. Flights shift to a thrice-weekly Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday pattern beginning Thursday, April 28, 2022. Tampa flights are shown through November 15.  I can't tell whether service will be offered by Airbus A-319 or A-320 aircraft, but it will one or the other (or both).  - David P. Jordan

Frontier Airlines will offer Las Vegas nonstops from Bloomington-Normal's Central Illinois Regional Airport (CIRA) Starting August 12. Service will be offered on Thursdays and Sundays using 168-seat Airbus A-320 aircraft. Presently, Frontier offers Denver and Orlando nonstops thrice-weekly on a seasonal basis. Service to Las Vegas will be seasonal as well. Frontier's new flights are not the first time CIRA offered Las Vegas nonstops. AirTran Airways offered quad-weekly service from August 15, 2007 through April 8, 2008 on 137-seat Boeing 737-700s. Service was suspended until August that year due to rising fuel prices, but in fact never returned. It should also be noted that CIRA handled 183,190 passengers in 2020. This figure was down 56.5 percent from 2019 volume.  - David P. Jordan

Bloomington-Normal's Central Illinois Regional Airport is again on a growth track, and is gaining another new destination. The Pantagraph reported Tuesday that CIRA handled 421,519 passengers in 2019. That's a 15.6 increase over 2018 when 364,482 passengers when through the facility's gates. The rise in traffic was attributed to Low Cost Carrier service by Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines. The former has just announced seasonal nonstops from CIRA to Destin/Fort Walton Beach from June 4 to August 16. Flights will operate Sundays and Thursdays.  - David P. Jordan

This past year was a good one for Bloomington-Normal's Central Illinois Regional Airport. Passenger traffic in 2018 rose 9.1 percent, according to the airport statistics section on the airport's website . Total enplanements were 183,575 and deplanements were 180,907 for a total of 364,482. Compare that to the 333,932 passengers that it handled in 2017. Last year's numbers pale in comparison to this facility's all-time record of 579,265 in 2011, but any increase is a good sign.  Airport officials credit strong loads on all carriers, particularly Allegiant Air and on its newest carrier, Frontier Airlines. The latter began tri-weekly Denver nonstops began September 24 and tri-weekly Orlando nonstops began October 2. Passenger growth came despite Frontier's seasonal suspension of its Denver flights after November 17 (service resumes April 30) and the loss of Delta Connection nonstops to Minneapolis/St. Paul from November 26. CIRA offers service on four ca...

Until this morning, work and weather had prevented me from capturing a Frontier Airlines jet at Bloomington-Normal's Central Illinois Regional Airport (CIRA),  The Denver, Colorado-based airline recently resumed service there with nonstops to Denver and Orlando, September 24 and October 2, respectively. Flights operate between Denver and Orlando, stopping at CIRA in each direction Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Sunday morning's flight operated with a 138-seat Airbus A-319. On the tail was "Flip the Bottlenose Dolphin." I caught its arrival from Denver on Runway 11 and departure to Orlando on Runway 20. - David P. Jordan

Frontier Airlines is resuming service to Bloomington/Normal. It is the third time around for the Denver-based carrier, which served the Twin Cities in 1997-2001 and 2012-2015. This press release tells us that service to Denver begins September 24. On October 2, Orlando service resumes as does expanded service to Denver.  You can bet United Express will resume Peoria-Denver around this time.  - David P. Jordan

Central Illinois Regional Airport is getting two new destinations. An official announcement comes Tuesday, June 19 at 9:00am. The Pantagraph reported this early Saturday.  Although official details will come in a few days, speculation is that Allegiant Air is announcing new service (Las Vegas? Phoenix-Mesa?). Another possibility is that CIRA has convinced Frontier Airlines to resume service. The former seems more likely. Update (June 17): My guesses are: Phoenix-Mesa (twice-weekly) Punta Gorda/Fort Myers (twice-weekly) - David P. Jordan

Central Illinois Regional Airport posted a 5 percent increase in passenger traffic in January 2018.  That's according to the Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority' February 13 meeting minutes . Officials credit increased leisure traffic on Allegiant Air to to both Orlando-Sanford and St. Petersburg/Clearwater. American Eagle's Dallas/Ft. Worth flights, which were upgraded to larger, 76-seat CRJ900s from 50-seat Embraer 145s in March 2017, showed strength as well. Business travel demand remains soft. Reduced capacity to Atlanta (Delta Connection) and weather issues with Chicago-O'Hare (American Eagle) were cited as reasons for declining traffic to those hubs. Delta Connection's Minneapolis/St. Paul flights showed slight growth. FedEx Express cargo volume continues to strengthen, posting a double-digit increase four months in a row, with an 18 percent increase in January.  - David P. Jordan

While most media outlets from coast to coast report their local airports' passenger figures by mid- to-late January, The Pantagraph waited until March 27  to report CIRA's figures, which was 333,932.  Last year's tally represented the lowest figure since 1997 when 281,942 passengers used Central Illinois Regional Airport's terminal facilities. Traffic was down 12 percent from 2016's tally of 381,109 passengers.  A 12 percent decline may be embarrassing, but such figures need to be reported without delay. News is news, good or bad. The reasons given are predictable, and one is simply bogus. A combination of airline mergers and a slowdown in local business travel continue to drive passengers away from the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington as officials look for ways to reverse the disappointing trend. Airline mergers? Southwest Airlines acquired AirTran Airways in May 2011 and withdrew from Central Illinois Regional Airport (CIRA) in ...