Peoria Station

An Embraer 175 in the old colors on final approach to Chicago-O'Hare Intl Airport May 26, 2023 Central Illinois residents will soon be able to connect through Denver year-round. United Express will resume nonstop daily service between Peoria and Denver on March 30, 2025. The last time the carrier played this market was in early 2015.  This WEEK-TV News 25 article and video has good details. Departure to Denver will be at 0850. The return flight will arrive back here at 2050. The single-daily roundtrip will be operated on a 76-seat jet, most likely an Embraer 175 operated by SkyWest Airlines. A burning question is what will Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines do? The former offers seasonal service between Peoria and Denver on Mondays and Fridays. The airline is offering Saturday flights on December 21 and 28, and January 4 as well. Flights cater to the local market, and mostly budget-conscious leisure travelers. So United Express' daily service might have but a minor effect on ...

I usually detail local commercial aviation happenings mid-year. But this year's happenings were too sad. Virus hype and self-inflicted economic destruction have devastated Peoria Int'l Airport's airline service and passenger numbers. And yet, there is some good news.  The Peoria Journal Star reported Monday that Allegiant Air is extending its Peoria-Nashville route beyond November. Flights operating Wednesdays and Saturdays will now also operate from December 19 to January 2. Airport officials hope service will return in the spring or summer.   - David P. Jordan

Allegiant Air will begin Peoria-Nashville flights beginning June 4.  That's according to this WEEK TV-25 article posted today. Previously, Ozark Air Lines offered same-plane service in both directions in 1980-1982 and American Eagle offered nonstop service in 1991-1995. Look here for more details as they become available. UPDATE: Flights will be offered on Thursdays and Sundays into November. On both days, they will arrive Peoria from Nashville at 9:13pm and depart for Nashville at 9:58pm. UPDATE 2 (Jan. 18):  The Peoria Journal Star article dated January 15 provides us with some interesting information. First, the airport authority first discussed Nashville service with Allegiant Air two years ago. Second, the airport estimates it handled a record 679,000 passengers in 2019. That's only slight above 2018's 672,594 passengers. Final numbers should be announced soon.  - David P. Jordan