PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria’s General Wayne A. Downing International Airport continues to set monthly passenger records in nine of the past 11 months. Most recently, April, May, and June have each reached all-time highs.
Gene Olson, Director of Airports for the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria, says June closed with 78,892 total passengers traveling through PIA –a 20 percent increase over June 2024. June’s numbers also surpassed May 2025’s previous all-time record of 72,774 passengers, an 8.4 percent month-over-month increase.
Recent data from Ciricum analytics shows PIA’s total airline seat capacity has grown 22.5 percent year-over-year. The growth is shared across all carriers serving PIA, with United Airlines leading the way by increasing seats by 67 percent compared to 2024. American Airlines follows with a 20 percent increase, and Allegiant has grown its capacity by 10 percent.
“The additional capacity placed in the Peoria market shows that airlines believe in our region’s ability to support continued growth,” Olson says. “It’s reassuring to see that our efforts are making a difference as we work every day to improve the air service experience for the Peoria area.”
PIA is on pace to close out 2025 with its highest-ever annual passenger total.
“We’re not just serving more people in our immediate area,” Olson adds. “Thanks to increased flight options, expanded class offerings, and the new daily United flight to Denver, we’re attracting travelers from well beyond the Peoria region. That growing demand helps us continue building the case for additional air service in the future.”
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