Greater Peoria Regional Airport
Generated by GPT-5-miniExpansion Funnel Raw 49 → Dedup 6 → NER 5 → Enqueued 1
| Greater Peoria Regional Airport | |
|---|---|
| Name | Greater Peoria Regional Airport |
| Iata | PIA |
| Icao | KPIA |
| Type | Public |
| Owner | Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria |
| City-served | Peoria, Illinois |
| Opened | 1927 |
| Elevation-ft | 655 |
Greater Peoria Regional Airport is a public airport serving the Peoria, Illinois metropolitan area and surrounding communities in central Illinois. The airport provides commercial air service, general aviation, and cargo operations, connecting Peoria County, Illinois with hubs such as Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and Denver International Airport. Facilities at the airport accommodate commercial air carriers, fixed-base operators, and maintenance organizations affiliated with regional economic centers like Caterpillar Inc., OSF HealthCare, and the Peoria Riverfront Museum.
Overview
Greater Peoria Regional Airport is located near Hoffman Estates, Illinois? (Note: location near Peoria; see local mapping) and serves the Peoria, Illinois urbanized area, the Peoria Metropolitan Statistical Area, and institutions such as Bradley University, Illinois Central College, and the Peoria Civic Center. The airport operates under the governance of the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria, coordinating with entities including the Federal Aviation Administration, Illinois Department of Transportation, and regional economic development organizations like the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce. Passenger services are provided by national and regional carriers that connect with major airline hubs such as O'Hare International Airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport.
History
The airport's origins trace to the 1920s aviation expansion era tied to pioneers like Charles Lindbergh and infrastructure programs influenced by decisions in the 1920s United States aviation policy. During the Great Depression, airport projects nationwide paralleled local investments that later supported industrial aviation needs for companies like Caterpillar Inc. and municipal services tied to the City of Peoria. Mid-20th century developments saw growth alongside national programs such as those enacted during the New Deal era and later infrastructure funding associated with the Federal Aviation Act of 1958. The jet age and deregulation era, influenced by the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, reshaped service patterns, with regional carriers and legacy airlines adapting routes through hubs including Chicago O'Hare International Airport and St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Recent decades included modernization projects paralleling airport improvements seen at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Facilities and Infrastructure
Runways, taxiways, and terminals at the airport reflect investments similar to projects at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Indianapolis International Airport. The field includes instrument approaches certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and navigational aids comparable to those used at Chicago Midway International Airport and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Hangar space and fixed-base operator services support operators such as American Airlines regional affiliates, United Airlines partners, and general aviation clients associated with organizations like Penske Aviation Group and regional maintenance providers. Cargo handling capabilities enable freight movements in support of manufacturers including Caterpillar Inc. and distribution networks connected to UPS Airlines and FedEx Express.
Airlines and Destinations
Commercial service at the airport has included flights operated by legacy and regional carriers such as American Airlines, United Airlines, and former operators in the pattern of Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines regional affiliates. Destinations commonly served connect to major hubs: Chicago O'Hare International Airport (O'Hare), Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), and Denver International Airport (DEN), enabling onward connections to global networks like those of Star Alliance and Oneworld. Seasonal and charter services occasionally coordinate with organizations hosting events at venues like the Peoria Civic Center and institutions such as Bradley University for athletic and cultural travel.
Operations and Statistics
Operational metrics for the airport—annual passenger enplanements, aircraft operations, and cargo throughput—are reported in formats similar to those published by the Federal Aviation Administration and Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Activity levels reflect regional demand driven by employers like Caterpillar Inc., healthcare systems such as OSF HealthCare, and academic institutions including Bradley University. Aircraft mix includes regional jets operated by carriers affiliating with major airlines, turboprops used by carriers in the model of SkyWest Airlines, and general aviation types paralleling fleets at University of Illinois Willard Airport and similar regional fields.
Ground Transportation and Access
Ground access connects the airport with surface transportation networks including state routes in Illinois, intercity bus corridors like services operated by carriers similar to Greyhound Lines, and regional transit services linking to downtown Peoria, Illinois and campuses such as Bradley University. Rental car providers and ground shuttle operators coordinate with passenger carriers in the manner of services at Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Indianapolis International Airport, supporting business travelers affiliated with companies like Caterpillar Inc. and visiting delegations to the Peoria Civic Center.
Incidents and Safety Records
Safety records and incident reports for the airport are maintained in databases used by agencies such as the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration. Historical occurrences are analyzed in the context of national aviation safety trends documented in studies by institutions like the National Transportation Safety Board and regulatory actions guided by the Federal Aviation Administration. The airport has implemented safety programs consistent with standards applied at airports like Midway International Airport and St. Louis Lambert International Airport to address runway incursions, wildlife hazards, and weather-related operational challenges.