It’s an exciting start to the New Year, as we welcome United Airlines to Willard Airport. We’ve been working hard to grow your travel options, and now the airline that serves more cities than any other will connect central Illinois to the world.
United will fly four times daily between Champaign-Urbana and its hub at Chicago O’Hare, beginning April 30. We did the math: travelers flying from central Illinois will have one-stop access to 45 new destinations. You’ll be able to fly to new places with a single stop – cities such as Brussels, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, and Zurich.
We’re working hard to get the Airport ready for the additional passengers United will bring.
Construction on the new TSA checkpoint is nearly complete. It should open before the end of March. We’ll have more than twice the queuing space, eliminating the need to line up at the top of the escalators to get through security. There will also be significantly more space after you clear security, so that you can collect your belongings, and wait for friends and family, without feeling rushed and cramped.
Out on the airfield, we’re beginning a project that will eventually lead to a reconstructed main runway. Currently, we’re studying the pavement, to understand how we’ll need to rebuild the runway. Once that’s complete, we’ll work to secure new grants and aim to start construction in 2028.
We’re also starting work to repave portions of the general aviation apron. That area is touched by virtually every plane that lands at Willard, aside from our airline flights. While that area is re-paved, we’ll also be laying new pavement in the employee parking lot by the airline terminal and the road leading to employee parking.
We’re also nearly finished fully replacing the passenger terminal roof. Parts of it were ripped off in an especially violent thunderstorm in 2023. The last of the replacements, a $200,000 section of the roof, is nearing completion.
Once the roof work is complete, we’ll start planning for more terminal enhancements. Those include new escalators, new elevators and a new terminal façade to extend the terminals life cycle. You’ll note that we always prioritize the passenger experience as we work to make it easier to Fly Champaign-Urbana.
We’re excited in 2026 to celebrate the 100th birthday of our long term airline partner, American Airlines. In 1926, American operated its first flight – between Chicago and St. Louis. American has been flying continuously to Champaign-Urbana for 72 years. The community has embraced American from the start, filling 81% of American’s Willard Airport seats in the last year – strong performance for our airport and carrier.
We’re thankful so many of you chose our airport in 2025. We hope, wherever 2026 takes you, you’ll begin your trip at Willard Airport.
Wishing you a Happy New Year!
Tim Bannon, A.A.E.
Executive Director
University of Illinois – Willard Airport
