Construction is beginning on the $2.3 million rental car service facility at Willard Airport.  The “quick turnaround” facility is designed to expedite cleaning and maintenance processes, allowing for a faster turnaround time for the vehicles.

After a customer returns a rental car, the company brings it to the quick turnaround facility.

Rental car staff inspect the returned vehicle for any damage. They note any issues or necessary repairs that need to be addressed before the car can be rented out again.

The vehicle goes through a thorough cleaning process. This includes vacuuming the interior, washing the exterior, and detailing to ensure it’s presentable for the next customer. The new Willard Airport quick turnaround facility will have modern wash systems to efficiently handle multiple vehicles simultaneously.  Once the vehicle has been inspected and cleaned, and any necessary maintenance completed, it is ready for the next customer.

The facility will save the rental car companies time as the new facility will be located adjacent to the main terminal. It also reduces carbon emissions as fewer cars will have to leave the airport property for servicing.

The facility is funded through rental car concessions fees and the anticipated completion of the project is December 2023.

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Willard Airport will serve about 525 passengers per day, each day, this summer.  Expect a busier terminal than you’ve seen for the last few years.  And make sure to arrive early, because American will no longer accept any checked bags delivered 45 minutes, or less, before departure.
If you aren’t checking a bag, make sure you arrive early to go through security.  With larger planes now operating at Willard, there will be more passengers on each departure.

It also helps if you can pack light. You can avoid checked baggage fees and waiting at baggage claim by only bringing a carry-on bag. Make sure to check American’s size and weight restrictions for carry-on luggage.

Keep an eye on your flight status and any potential delays or cancellations by signing up for flight alerts through American’s app or website. Stay connected to the airline’s social media channels for any real-time updates.

And you might consider travel insurance.  If you’re planning a big trip or have concerns about potential disruptions, consider purchasing travel insurance to protect yourself against unexpected events like flight cancellations or lost luggage.

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Data has just been released for calendar year 2022, and Willard Airport saw 120,529 passengers travel through its gates – the highest number since before the pandemic.  15,000 more passengers used Willard in 2022 than in 2021.

American filled its highest percentage of seats since it began serving the Airport more than 60 years ago.  Paying passengers filled 86% of the seats American flew in and out of the market in 2022, breaking the previous record of 79%, set eight years ago.

Demand for airline travel is near its highest point in history.  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported high levels of confidence among travelers for the peak summer travel season. Right now, bookings are tracking at 35% above 2022 levels.

The IATA survey covering 4,700 travelers in 11 countries shows that 79% of travelers surveyed said that they were planning a trip in the June-August 2023 period.  80% said that they expected smooth travel with post pandemic issues having been resolved.

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As of this month, all American Airlines flights at Willard Airport are operated by “two-class” aircraft, with bigger cabins and more seats.  All flights now feature first class, main cabin extra, and economy class, giving you more choices when you travel, and offering generous upgrade opportunities for the more frequent fliers.

The new planes are much larger, with 2-by-2 seating in economy and 1-by-2 seating in American’s first class.  The planes have much larger overhead bins, allowing you to stow your roll aboard in the bin above your seat, instead of having to gate check your bag and wait for it when you arrive.

Willard Airport leadership frequently meets with American, working to secure more capacity and to better serve the region.  The Airport built a business case for American to replace 50-seat regional jets with larger planes.  American agreed that the market can support the additional seats.

Those additional seats will increase capacity at Willard by almost 50% this summer, providing much needed seats in a market that fills more than 90% of departing seats.  Increased capacity could lead to lower fares.

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Willard Airport is gearing up for a busy summer – one of the busiest in the last decade.  With new, larger jets  now operating all flights, American Airlines will offer approximately 50% more seats than the last couple of summers.  TSA checkpoints will be busy, make sure to check-in and drop off your checked baggage at least 45 minutes before your flight departs.

If you don’t want to check a bag, you can carry-on with more ease than ever before.  All flights at Willard now have dual-class aircraft, with larger overhead bins.  That means you likely won’t have to gate-check your roll aboard.

Larger jets are serving Willard in response to high demand for airline tickets.  In 2022, our Airport served more than 120,000 total passengers, or an average of almost 330 per day.  Those passengers filled 86% of the seats American offered – the highest share of seats filled since American started serving Willard.

We continue to share that data with both American, and other carriers, as we work to secure additional flights.  We know each additional airline seat generates $77 in economic activity in Champaign County.  We take our role as an economic driver for the community very seriously.

We also take safety seriously.  I was proud to congratulate my team on a perfect FAA inspection in April.  Discrepancy-free inspections are a rarity, and we’ve had them for two years in a row.  That takes amazing dedication to detail and illustrates our commitment to our tenants and our travelers.

We hope you’ll come and see all that we’ve done to make flying easier.  As always, we hope you’ll Fly Champaign-Urbana first.

Tim Bannon, A.A.E.
Executive Director
University of Illinois – Willard Airport

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Letter from the Executive Director – Dec. 2022

Our airport is excited to welcome new, larger jets, starting this month.  American Airlines’ regional affiliate, Envoy, now operates both daily roundtrips to and from Dallas/Ft. Worth with 76-seat Embraer ERJ175 aircraft.  The planes are much larger than the 50-seaters previously used on the route, and they feature 12 first class seats – the first time American has offered a first class product in Champaign-Urbana.  The plane also has larger overhead bins, which means you won’t have to gate-check your roll aboard.

The shift to larger planes adds about 25% more daily departing seats, which could help to lower fares, and will ensure you have more travel options.  American is also flying a third daily departure to Chicago O’Hare for the holiday season, to keep up with resilient demand in our market.

Our travelers are filling more seats at Willard Airport than at any time in history.  This summer, 91% of all seats went out full – among the highest share of any airport in the Midwest.  We know Willard can support more airline capacity.

To that end, we have spent the fall meeting, in person, with a number of airlines to ensure they understand the market dynamics.  We meet not only with “network carriers” like American, but also many low-cost airlines that could connect east central Illinois to vacation destinations such as Florida and Las Vegas.

The current challenge for all carriers is a lack of pilots.  More than 4,000 pilots retired during the pandemic, and there simply aren’t enough fully qualified pilots available to fill those positions.

Parkland College, a tenant at Willard, is working to train the next generation of pilots – with 100 future aviators currently enrolled.  But it will be several years before those students are ready to fly passengers.

Until then, we will continue to make the case that our market is the best place for airlines to allocate aircraft and pilot time.  And, as you’ll read in this newsletter, the federal Department of Transportation also believes in Champaign-Urbana with an $850,000 grant award to help us recruit service to Washington, DC.

In the meantime, we appreciate when you Fly Champaign-Urbana first.

Tim Bannon, A.A.E.
Executive Director
University of Illinois – Willard Airport

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After several years of work, the Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded Willard Airport an $850,000 grant to help secure nonstop flights to a Washington, DC area airport.  The Grant is matched by more than $1.2 million in local funds contributed by almost two-dozen Champaign-Urbana organizations and companies.

Willard competes against many other airports for funding from the DOT’s Small Community Air Service Development Grant Program (SCASDP).  It had $16.9 million available for all airports.  48 airports applied for funding, and just 25, including Willard, won.  Airports requested more than $33 million in funding, but the DOT could only award about half that amount.

To win funding, Willard Airport had to illustrate a strong business case that the service can be successful, community support and matching funding, and that airline service at Willard has been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.  Willard’s capacity is down by a third since the pandemic began.

“We couldn’t be happier to be selected for this grant, which will directly support a Minimum Revenue Guarantee (MRG) and associated marketing program to recruit, initiate, and support potential service to the Washington, DC region,” said Tim Bannon, Willard Airport Executive Director. “This grant will put our community in a strong position to continue efforts in landing a highly coveted route to the nation’s capital.”

The Airport has already been in talks with prospective carriers to discuss the Grant, and its potential to mitigate risk in starting the new route.  Current pilot shortages means that service is unlikely to begin in 2023, but service could start in 2024.

Willard was the only airport in Illinois to receive funding.

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Willard Airport leadership frequently meets with American Airlines, our incumbent carrier, working to secure more capacity and to better serve the region.  The Airport built a business case for American to replace 50-seat regional jets on the Dallas/Ft. Worth route, with larger and more comfortable 76-seat Embraer ERJ175 planes.  American agreed that the market can support the additional seats, and most DFW flights shifted to the larger planes on November 30.

The new planes are much larger, with 2-by-2 seating in economy and 1-by-2 seating in American’s first class.  Each plane is configured with 12 first class seats and 64 seats in economy.  The planes have much larger overhead bins, allowing you to stow your roll aboard in the bin above your seat, instead of having to gate check your bag and wait for it when you arrive.

The additional seats represent a 25% increase in capacity for Willard this winter, providing much needed seats in a market that fills more than 90% of departing seats.  Increased capacity should lead to lower fares.

While some flights to and from DFW will still operate with 50-seat jets, virtually all flights should feature the larger plane by spring.

If the Champaign-Urbana community fills DFW flights on larger aircraft, American will consider replacing 50-seat seats on the Chicago O’Hare route in 2023.

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Willard Airport worked with engineering firm Crawford, Murphy, and Tilly  to complete its first master plan in more than 30 years.  The plan lays out projects that should be completed to ensure the Airport is ready to serve the community for the next several decades.

The master plan found the existing Passenger Terminal Building, which was built in 1988, is considered to be a “pre-9/11” facility. Its existing layout, size, and features did not consider enhanced security requirements and space standards that changed drastically in 2001-2002.

A  terminal  upgrade  program  was  developed  to  expand  and modernize the existing facility to meet future travel demand while providing amenities and enhancements to improve the overall passenger experience.

The upgrade program includes the relocation and expansion of the TSA security screening checkpoint and a larger passenger queue line, which will be complete in 2024.  The program also includes an expansion of TSA baggage screening areas, an eventual additional baggage claim carousel,  and renovated restrooms.

In addition to terminal upgrades, the master plan will bring Willard Airport up to FAA taxiway design standards, enhancing airfield safety by making geometric improvements that require more deliberate taxi movements and improve pilot situational awareness.

The master plan calls for a new aircraft rescue and firefighting facility.  The current facility is nearing the end of its useful life.  The master plan also found that the site is not ideal for long term operations and building size – and an alternate site should be explored to ensure the best response possible.

Finally, the master plan calls on the Airport to work with local communities to ensure compatible uses of land both on the Airport’s property and on adjacent property.

You can read the entire master plan report at: Full Airport Master Plan – CMI

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