Peoria Station

It is time for my annual update on local airline service.  A summer month is best for this update. I used July for 2024's update, and I have every reason to do so again this year. Barring last minute changes, the schedules and route map below are accurate. So let us delve into the present situation.  ALLEGIANT AIR Like last year, schedules for July 2025 show most flights operated with Airbus A320 equipment. They do not discern between 177-seat A320s or brand-new 186-seat A320SEOs. Smaller A319s, configured for 156 seats, are now only used on some Las Vegas and Punta Gorda flights. Brand new Boeing 737 Max 8-200 aircraft began appearing on St. Petersburg/Clearwater nonstops as early as February 2025 and are now also used on Orlando-Sanford nonstops. These aircraft are equipped with 190 seats.  Seasonal nonstops to Destin/Fort Walton Beach and year-round nonstops to Phoenix-Mesa and Punta Gorda have gained one weekly roundtrip each as compared to last year. So there are now...

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...