PIA has another record month in May
Jun 11, 2018
PEORIA -- More passengers traveled through the Gen. Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport last month than any other previous May, helping boost PIA's overall passenger count to more than 5 percent over 2017's numbers year-to-date.
A record 60,261 passengers traveled through PIA in May, breaking the previous May record of 56,470 set in May 2014.
March was also the busiest month in airport history.
"These are exciting numbers because we're not even fully into the busy summer travel season," said Gene Olson, Director of Airports for the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria, noting that PIA has six nonstop destinations to vacation spots across the country -- more than any other Central Illinois airport -- on Allegiant.
Low-cost carrier Allegiant flies nonstop from PIA to Las Vegas, Phoenix and four Florida cities -- Destin, Orlando, Punta Gorda and Tampa/St. Petersburg. PIA also has daily nonstop flights on American, Delta and United airlines to six major hubs, including four of the five most connected airports in the U.S.
While leisure travel continues to be up double digits thus far in 2018, Olson noted that PIA is focused on increasing business travel.
"We're extremely proud of the options and airlines that we have at PIA. Four of our six hubs are ranked among the top five most connected airports in the country," Olson said. "Airports are critical lifelines to the global economy, and our airport offers easy access to that international community. Having daily flights to so many of the most connected airports in the world is an asset that not all communities our size can boast."
Meanwhile, there is room for more growth, Olson noted, if PIA can capture more of its natural market.
Although PIA had its third busiest year in 2017, a recent market analysis showed the airport captures just 58 percent of the air travel within a 25- to 40-mile radius. Of the 42 percent choosing another airport, 33 percent of those are choosing O'Hare International Airport, according to the study.
"The more we can convince everyone to use PIA, the more service and destinations we can attract," Olson said. "In our industry, the advice 'use it or lose it' means more now than ever before, especially for airports our size."
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- For information, contact:
- Gene Olson, Director of Airports
- Phone: 309-697-8272
- Email: golson@flypia.com