The Journal Star is reporting that passenger business at the Gen. Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport continues to decline, though not as fast as it did this winter.
Some good news is that air cargo continues to boom. Through August of this year, United Parcel Service air cargo volume increased 308% compared to the same period in 2008. The reason is that they and DHL/ABX Air dropped Decatur and Bloomington-Normal, respectively, from their air routes in late January/early February, and customers are now using Peoria’s air cargo facilities.
Hopefully, as the economy returns to a boom cycle, Delta Connection will resume its Peoria – Atlanta nonstops, and just in time for the new terminal dedication planned for November 2010.
- David P. Jordan
2 responses so far ↓
1
SP
// Oct 7, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I have a couple of questions for you.
Do you feel that once the economy does turn around a bit that Allegient will extend their service from PIA to any other destinations such as Internation Flights (Cancun) and/or California? I think those two services would be a HUGE draw to this area, what do you think?
Also, in terms of passenger load, how does PIA rate with the rest of the state? I had heard a rumor that when PIA was at its peak they were second only behind the Chicago airports, is there any truth to that?
2
David P. Jordan
// Oct 7, 2009 at 7:12 pm
When the new terminal opens in late 2010, there should be facilities for processing international passengers. I would expect the airport authority to discuss routes such as Peoria – Cancun with Apple Vacations or another package tour operator. Allegiant Air has provided the aircraft and crews for some Apple services (like for Rockford until replaced by Aeromexico). California may be possible after the economy recovers if fuel prices do not skyrocket like they did in 2007-2008.
AirTran Airways keeps fares quite low at the Quad Cities and Bloomington-Normal so they’re faring better than Peoria. Delta thinks they have to compete directly with them, so both cities offer far more flights to Atlanta (eight daily total) than they normally could support without regional draw.
If Peoria’s 1978 passenger total (550,000) exceeded the Quad Cities’ total, then yes, it was second in the state after O’Hare. A distant second, of course.
Leave a Comment