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 

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 is increasing service to Peoria again. The carrier has returned to five daily roundtrips between Peoria International Airport and Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, probably this month. But on March 30-31, service increases to SEVEN daily roundtrips. The schedule for that date is as follows- From Chicago-O'Hare 10:02 CRJ200 12:36 CRJ200 14:07 CRJ550 16:44 CRJ200 18:53 CRJ200 21:08 CRJ550 22:27 CRJ200 To Chicago-O'Hare 06:30 CRJ550 08:15 CRJ200 10:40 CRJ200 13:20 CRJ200 14:50 CRJ550 17:25 CRJ200 19:28 CRJ200 Those flights with CRJ550 equipment, offering 50 seats and three-class service, are operated by GoJet Airlines. Those with CRJ200 equipment, offering 50 seats and single-class service, are operated by SkyWest Airlines.  But the frequency buildup is only temporary, as on May 21-22, service is cut back to five daily roundtrips, but with deployment of 76-seat Embraer 175 equipment on at least two, perhaps three roundtrips. I would include a schedule for th...

American Eagle is adding a third daily roundtrip between Peoria and Dallas/Ft. Worth. When I checked chnges on Charlotte and Chicago-O'Hare frequency and equipment early next month, I had not gotten far enough up the calendar to noticed that Envoy Airlines dba American Eagle is adding a late-morning turnaround to its schedule between Peoria and Dallas/Ft. Worth on Friday, April 4. Like the mid-afternoon turnaround and the Remain-Overnight (RON) flight, the new one will use 76-seat Embraer 175 equipment.  Although Charlotte service is cut from three to two roundtrips, Chicago-O'Hare gets three roundtrips, and now for the first time since larger, two-class equipment (initially Canadair CRJ900s) was introduced in February 2017, Dallas/Ft. Worth gets three roundtrips!  - David P. Jordan

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 ...

My first attempt was a little clumsy. Breeze Airways, an Ultra Low-Cost Carrier (ULCC), began serving Springfield in early December with twice-weekly nonstops to both Orlando and Tampa. I had to wait nearly four months to see the action. That's because initial service was on weekday mornings. Orlando flights started on Mondays and Fridays but shifted to Wednesdays and Saturdays in mid-January. This gave me hope, but freezing weather or fog thwarted my plans into February.  Then the schedule for Orlando turnarounds switched to evenings. I had to wait until Daylight Savings Time went into affect March 10 before sufficient sunshine would be available.  I got down there too late to capture an American Eagle CRJ200 on approach to Runway 22, and though the Breeze Airways jet might follow the same approach. It was too late to change locations when I discovered it was on final for Runway 31.  Whatever happened afterward required some creativity. Next time, I will do better. ...

American Eagle is adding a third daily roundtrip between Peoria and Chicago-O'Hare on April 4.  The additional flights will be a morning turnaround. Daily departures will be at 6:39am, 11:34am and 4:44pm. Arrivals will be at 11:04am, 3:49pm and 9:12pm.  News of increased service comes shortly after the announcement that Peoria International Airport handled 638,378 passengers in 2023.  Schedules show the added service available for two months, but bookings could always lead to an extension. United Express resumed a third daily Peoria to Chicago-O'Hare roundtrip last July 8, and it continues to operate.  A pilot shortage, the consequence of raised federal qualifications and an "unexpected" rise in air travel following the end of COVID restrictions, eased somewhat in 2023. Part of this improvement, however, was due to reduced flying by regional carriers.  So the new service is likely being added back as traffic levels return to historic levels, and perhaps also for...

The coronavirus scare has caused predictable congestion at Chicago-O'Hare International Airport. This article  explains the issues, and how nearby Rockford is benefitting.  Limited capacity in commercial airliners has shifted more business to dedicated air cargo firms. This has taxed capacity at O'Hare's outdated freight facilities. Congestion on the ground is expensive in terms of fuel, and delays for customers intolerable. That is why two freight forwarders -  D. B. Schenker and Senator International - have relocated some air cargo flights to Chicago-Rockford International Airport.  I've always wondered why Peoria was never able to attract international air cargo service. Caterpillar is a big user of air freight for emergency parts shipments out of its Morton, Illinois facility with shipments bound for distribution centers in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, Japan, etc. There are other local firms that use international air cargo for time-sensitive shipments....

Peoria Int'l Airport handled 689,416 passengers in 2019.  That number that beats 2018's 672,594 passengers, which itself was a record. So traffic grew 2.5 percent in 2019. More details can be found in the airport's press release here . December's 56,328 passenger tally was itself the year's eighth monthly record.  More good news is that Republic Airways dba United Express is introducing larger planes in the Peoria to Chicago-O'Hare market beginning with an evening arrival at 6:56 on Thursday, February 13 and 5:45 morning departure on Friday, February 14. An Embraer 170 equipped with 70 seats will supplement four other roundtrips operated by Trans States Airlines (one using an Embraer 145) and Air Wisconsin (three using Canadair RJ200s). The larger equipment will be here for at least a couple of months, according to this Peoria Journal Star story . If business is sufficient, then use of the Embraer 170 will continue.  - David P. Jordan

I wish I could report that United Express is going to resume Peoria-Denver nonstops, but I can't. But perhaps this news is the next best thing. Thanks to a regular commenter, I can announced that on March 31-April 1, 2019 Air Wisconsin dba United Express is expanding daily service between Peoria and Chicago-O'Hare from four to five roundtrips. Saturday service increases from three to four.  In April, flights will be operated by a mix of 50-seat regional jets for the time being (Bombardair CRJ200s and Embraer 145s). Beginning April 29, all flights will be operated by CRJ200s. The expanded service lasts at least through the summer (I checked as late as Tuesday, October 1 and there still five roundtrips). Hopefully, this is a sign that other carriers are picking up passenger traffic after the loss of Delta Connection flights to Detroit, which ended November 26.  - David P. Jordan

(Originally posted on peoriastation.com March 26, 2017) The last post in this series on PIA (Peoria Int'l Airport) covered the 1958-1960 period, detailing the new terminal which opened in May 1959. Airline schedules from the Official Airline Guide, January 1960 edition, were included. I’ll now analyze 1960-1964. The new terminal brought optimism that the 1960s would bring larger aircraft and more flights. Indeed, the Peoria Journal Star reported on May 13, 1959 that American Airlines might replace its 40-seat Convair 240s with 70-seat DC-6s and eventually the new turboprop Lockheed Electra. Likewise, Trans World Airlines intended to phase out its 40-seat Martin 404s in favor of 81-seat Lockheed Constellations. This optimism shattered when Trans World Airlines announced on January 13, 1960 plans to drop Peoria from its network. Then American Airlines made a similar announcement March 9 that year. As a courtesy to TWA’s 13 years of service, Peoria industry did not oppos...

(Originally posted on peoriastation.com October 11, 2016) The last post in this series covered the period between 1950 and 1956. This one covers the ensuing two years. That’s because a lot happened, which set the stage for decades to come. LONGER RUNWAY FOR ANG JET FIGHTERS Runway 12-30, with a northwest-southeast orientation, opened with 4002′ x 100′ dimensions. In 1947, it was extended to 5000′ and widened to 150′ for operations by the 169th’s P-51 Mustangs. As early as 1948, a USAF general suggested ANG would soon obtain jet fighters, requiring at least 6000′ runway length. At first, the airport’s 3600′ northeast-southwest runway (4-22) was to be lengthened to 4800′ or 5000′. Unfortunately, issues with mining subsidence and airfield funding delayed these projects, and by the time they were solved, the Korean War consumed funding and supplies which would have enabled runway expansion. Another issue was Monroe School, which would have to relocate if 4-22 were extend...

A Peoria guy visits O'Hare! There are almost 24 minutes of video here showing selected arrivals to Runway 10C at Chicago-O'Hare International Airport between 0800 and 1700 Saturday, July 29, 2017. Highlights include nine 747s, most foreign widebodies, an American Airlines 787-9, a Lufthansa Cargo MD-11, two FedEx DC-10s and a WOW Air A-321 from Reykjavik, Iceland! Most scenes were shot from the same location, but I had to improvise on three occasions. - David P. Jordan