To date, community organizations and the University of Illinois have pledged more than $800,000 in funds for service on ultra-low cost carriers to destinations in Florida, Arizona, and Nevada. The Airport is in the process of presenting business cases for service to carriers with interest.
Willard Airport’s Executive Director was joined by the CEO of the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation in meetings with a number of airlines at the end of May. In the meetings, Champaign-Urbana’s growth, economic highlights, and businesses cases for service were presented.
Champaign County represents a huge market for less-than-daily flights to vacation destinations. To Florida, alone, the County generates an average of more than 500 passengers each and every day. Just 5% of those passengers use Willard Airport, with more than 90% driving to Chicago airports and Indianapolis. Very few drive to other downstate airports.
Airlines were clear in meetings that they are still struggling with a pilot shortage, which slows their expansion. The shortage exists for a number of reasons, including retirement of experienced pilots during the pandemic, increased demand for air travel, and a lack of job opportunities for inexperienced pilots with fewer than 1,500 hours of flight time.
It could be several more years before pilot shortages ease. In the meantime, airlines are working to best use each pilot hour to generate the most possible revenue.
Many other communities are in the same process. Airlines have the luxury of being able to evaluate many similar business cases for service – and many communities that would support service – while choosing those with the least risk.
