Peoria Airport "Eerie" With So Few Customers

There's not a lot going on at the Peoria airport these days.
Gene Olson, airports director at the Gen. Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport, said the COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in "the evaporation of air travelers."
"We had 52,825 passengers in February, a record for that month and first time we've been over 50,000 passengers in February," he said.
That figure dropped to 36,343 in March. "We had two good weeks in March before the stay-at-home order was given," said Olson, adding that on March 13, a date that sticks in his mind because he had to cancel plans to fly to a canoe-paddling conference in Wisconsin, is when "the bottom dropped out."
So far in April, the Peoria airport is averaging just over 50 passengers a day. "The airlines are still operating flights and TSA is still operating but with fewer employees," said Olson.
While planes still land and depart, there's more time between take-offs. Instead of 34 flights a day--both arrivals and departures--Peoria now has 12 flights, he said.
Olson said the slowdown has a ripple effect. "We normally get landing fees from the airlines plus revenue from the rental car business, restaurant and gift shop. That's all been affected by the stay-at-home orders but that's how it should be during a pandemic. You shouldn't be flying unless you have to," he said.
The $6 million federal grant received by the Peoria airport allows Olson to maintain the 33 employees at the Peoria Airport Authority. "That grant's going to tide us over," he said, noting that 10 part-time shuttle drivers who, due to their age or underlying health conditions, were sent home are also still being paid.
Olson said the airport he's managed for the past 11 years has installed plexiglass shields across ticket counters and marked the floor to indicate six-foot spacing for passengers.
But the lack of passengers right now is noticeable, said Olson. "There's still a bunch of employees working here but it can be pretty eerie at times," he said.
"The only connection we've lost in the outbreak is Delta's service to Minneapolis. Those flights have been terminated for the present but they're talking about reinstating service in another another month but that date may get pushed back." said Olson, who reports to the airport every day. "I try to stay in the office as much as possible. We do a lot of remote meetings," he said.
"One thing there's definitely not a problem finding a parking spot," said Olson, adding that the airport has taken advantage of open space in the parking lot--normally crowded with vehicles--to do some patching and repainting.
We’re living in unprecedented times when information changes by the minute. WCBU will continue to be here for you, keeping you up-to-date with the live, local and trusted news you need. Help ensure WCBU can continue with its in-depth and comprehensive COVID-19 coverage as the situation evolves by making a contribution.