Peoria Station

At the groundbreaking ceremony for the new terminal at the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport, Director Ken Spirito mentioned the possibility of obtaining international charter flights. Peoria has already had them; via American Trans Air to London, England and Nassau, Bahamas in the late 1980’s. So what possible international charter destinations could be offered when the new terminal opens by fall 2010?

Chicago Rockford International Airport, which serves a similar-sized metropolitan area as Peoria, has offered weekly nonstops to Cancun, Mexico for the past four winters . These flights, sponsored by Apple Vacations, had been operated with Allegiant Air MD-80’s but for the next season, which begins December 27, passengers will ride on newer Aeromexico Boeing 737-700’s. Service will also double to twice-weekly, with flights departing Rockford on both Saturdays and Sundays through April 12. Since Peoria could serve as an international gateway for central Illinois 1 million+ residents, I would expect weekly nonstops to Cancun to do well here, if offered.

Rockford might have boasted charters to Ireland this past summer were it not for the steep rise in fuel prices. Sponsored by Kenny Tours, these flights would have departed Rockford weekly during June, July and August. North American Airlines Boeing 757’s would have been used on these flights. That such service was proposed suggests it could still happen in the near future. Kenny Tours had also planned similar service from St. Louis Mid-America Airport and I believe Peoria, serving the central Illinois catchment area, could support similar service.

Another potential international charter destination is Nassau. As mentioned above, American Trans Air offered nonstops from Peoria to the Bahamian capital during the late 1980’s.

There is a lot of wealth in central Illinois, what with Archer Daniels Midland, Caterpillar and State Farm Insurance based in the region. The presence of these firms means that the large number of affluent residents is a ready market to be tapped for international airline charters, and the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport is the best equipped facility in the region to handle them.

- David P. Jordan