PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria International Airport celebrates an important birthday Tuesday: it was 11 years ago that its brand new terminal opened to the public.
There was some doubt back then when the new terminal was built that the airport would be able to use it all. Airport Director Gene Olson says, that’s nothing to worry about now.
“We had a grand opening ceremony, and I remember being really nervous when then-Mayor (Jim) Ardis made a speech, and said, ‘Okay, you’ve got a new building. Now, let’s fill it up,’” said Olson. “And, we did that, because by 2015, we had to expand. We constructed the Ray LaHood International Terminal.
So what can airport director Gene Olson do for an encore?
“We’re doing a project starting this year to expand the aircraft parking apron in front of the terminal, so that we can spread the jet bridges out further, and accommodate larger aircraft,” said Olson.
Airport Director Gene Olson says airlines have been asking to bring lager craft to Peoria, and they’ve had to say no, until this project is complete.
The airport is also still in the waiting to see if it gets grant money to construct a new air traffic control tower, replacing the long-outdated structure there now.
“There’s 26 other airports that are in the same boat we’re in with regard to their control towers. I think ours is probably in the worst shage” said Olson. I have gotten feedback from the [Federal Aviation Administration], asking questions and following up. So, that tells me they’re at least looking at it.”
480,000-plus people used the airport in some form last year — almost a pre-COVID figure. Olson says the airport is already on pace to top that this year.
The Peoria Riverfront Museum Tuesday hosted a news conference featuring a new video highting the airport’s numbers. Watch the video below.
