Demand for service in Champaign County, and at Willard Airport, has fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels. A new passenger study, completed with data from 2023, shows that the County generates almost 2,700 passengers per day. But fewer passengers are using Willard Airport because there simply aren’t enough flights. While virtually all flights between Willard and […]
Continue ReadingWillard Airport Launches New Website
Willard Airport is excited to unveil a refreshed airport website. It features a new, modern design, fresh imagery, refreshed content, and improved navigation on all platforms including on your mobile device. For the first time, the Airport has added Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) features. Those include settings for Seizure Safe, Vision Impaired, ADHD, Cognitive […]
Continue ReadingIon Grove Café Ready to Open
The Airport is happy to officially welcome Ion Grove Café to the gate area. It opened with limited services in the last week. Soon, you’ll be able to pick-up a bite to eat or a quick coffee before you board your plane at Willard Airport. Ion Grove Café will feature healthy meals, snacks, and drinks […]
Continue ReadingConstruction Underway on Major Safety Project to Realign Taxiway
A major safety project is underway this summer at Willard Airport, realigning a taxiway that connects the airline terminal, FlightStar, and the Parkland College Institute of Aviation with two of the Airport’s runways. The taxiway had what inspectors called, “non-standard geometry.” In other words, it connected to the runways in spots that the Federal Aviation […]
Continue ReadingReal ID: Required by May 2025
On May 7, 2025, travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights at Willard Airport, or any airport in the US. Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act recommended that the Federal Government, “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” The Act established minimum security […]
Continue ReadingLetter from the Executive Director – Winter 2024
Director’s Corner: Tim Bannon, AAE – Executive Director It’s been a challenging, and exciting, time at the University of Illinois – Willard Airport. We have faced the most significant weather events in the Airport’s history with last summer’s derecho – we have completed repairs, some of which have resulted in noticeable upgrades to the passenger […]
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