Peoria Station

On January 11, 1968 the Peoria Journal Star published passenger, air mail, air express and air freight figures for the Greater Peoria Airport in 1949-1967. Traffic grew rapidly in this period and 1967's passenger tally was nearly ten times that of 1949.  1949 - 23,976 1950 - 22,903 1951 - 26,961 1952 - 32,524 1953 - 40,353 1954 - 48,336 1955 - 68,058 1956 - 82,257 1957 - 94,915 1958 - 90,873 1959 - 98,214 1960 - 94,986 1961 - 91,573 1962 - 104,189 1963 - 119,723 1964 - 143,277 1965 - 177,831 1966 - 199,816 1967 - 232,324 TERMINAL EXPANSION Meanwhile, terminal expansion plans progressed. The original building, which opened in May 1959, allowed for expansion to twelve gate positions, six of which would be needed by 1980 when 350,000 passengers were expected to pass through. Officials settled on a 58,000 sq. ft., two-level addition to the main terminal and a linear concourse to be built out front. Work began on December 16, 1968.  ...

The last post in this series dealt with the loss of both Trunk Airlines and the adequacy of the remaining carrier, Ozark Air Lines, to provide quality service for local air travelers. In terms of service, capacity and rising passenger traffic, it appears Ozark succeeded.  In early 1964, Airport Director DeWitt Collins told the Greater Peoria Airport Authority that flights to New York and Washington, DC were possible, and consideration was being made for a new 6000' crosswind runway that was needed for jet service (Runway 12-30 already had 7000', plus 1000' overrun, but if closed for construction or weather, another jet-capable runway was needed to avoid having jet flights suspended). TWA AND PEORIA Jet service was possible at an earlier date had Trans World Airlines resumed service here. The carrier's service suspension eff. April 24, 1960 was for two years, and the carrier failed to file for an extension or a permanent suspension in 1962. In March 1964, the ...