logo
Peoria airport hits all-time record passenger numbers in March

Peoria airport hits all-time record passenger numbers in March

Yahoo25-04-2025

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — The records keep falling when it comes to total passengers at the Gen. Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport.
The Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria announced that March had the highest number — 71,988 — of passengers flying in and out of the airport. The old record was in July 2019 when 68,447 flew in and out of the airport.
It also beat the old monthly all time high by more than 5%, said Gene Olson, Director of Airports for the authority.
'We knew that March was going to put up some impressive numbers, based on the activity in our parking lots, and we suspected we might set a record,' he said. 'But we didn't anticipate breaking the all-time monthly record, and we didn't foresee setting the record by that large of a margin.'
He added the airlines have been adding frequencies to the destinations we already served and adding new destinations.
'We're grateful to the folks in Central Illinois who have been using those additional flights,' he said. 'People have really been supporting our existing flights, and we're seeing great usage of both our low-cost Denver weekly flights and our new daily Denver flights on United.'
The airport has seen increasing numbers which have exceeded the pre-Covid monthly averages since last June. In 2024 alone, the airport set monthly records in August, September, November, and December. They set a record this past January but fell short by just over 500 passengers in February which was likely due to snow-related cancellations at the hub airports.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

B.C.'s youth unemployment rate second-highest in Canada with 16.6 per cent in May
B.C.'s youth unemployment rate second-highest in Canada with 16.6 per cent in May

Yahoo

time32 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

B.C.'s youth unemployment rate second-highest in Canada with 16.6 per cent in May

VICTORIA — High school students walking across graduation stages this month will step into an uncertain job market as B.C. has the second-highest youth unemployment rate in Canada. Figures released by Statistics Canada this month show the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate among people ages 15 to 24 was 16.6 per cent in May, up from 13.4 in April 2025 and up from 10.5 per cent in May 2024. Only Alberta has recorded a higher unemployment rate in that age category with 17.2 per cent, while the national youth unemployment rate is at 14.2 per cent. B.C.'s youth unemployment rate for May 2025 is below the rate of June 2020, when the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate among youth hit 28.6 per cent based on figures from Statistics Canada because of COVID-19. But the current unemployment rate among youth exceeds youth unemployment 15 years ago when it hit annual peak of 15.6 per cent in June 2010 in the midst of the so-called Great Recession caused by the financial crisis of 2007-2008. B.C.'s overall employment rate for May 2025 was 6.4 per cent, up from 6.2 per cent in April 2025 and 5.6 per cent in May 2024. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025. Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press

On the Record: Tariffs and trade policy winners and losers in Central Illinois
On the Record: Tariffs and trade policy winners and losers in Central Illinois

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

On the Record: Tariffs and trade policy winners and losers in Central Illinois

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Volatility from the shifting tariffs and trade policies of the Trump administration is the dominant stressor for businesses in the Greater Peoria area, according to the head of the region's economic development organization. Chris Setti, CEO of the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, joined 'WMBD News: On the Record' to discuss industry challenges and his recent trade mission to Mexico. 'I think that the main issue really has been uncertainty. Businesses like to be able to plan for the future, right? They want to be able to plan for their supply chains and what their customers might need and pricing,' he said. While the turbulence in trade policy has raised concerns across many sectors, it's not all bad news. Setti pointed to Liberty Steel in Bartonville as a potential winner. 'A 50% tariff on imported steel helps level the playing field for them,' he said. 'They've struggled to compete with cheaper foreign steel, especially from China. This move allows them to invest more confidently in their plant.' But not everyone is cheering. Construction firms and agriculture businesses are worried about rising costs on imported materials like potash, an essential ingredient in fertilizer. 'It cuts both ways,' Setti said. 'There are winners and losers in every policy decision, no matter which administration is in charge.' In April, Setti joined Gov. JB Pritzker for a trade mission to Mexico City to explore opportunities for collaboration. 'It was a fantastic trip,' Setti said. 'There's a lot of trade between Illinois and Mexico for exports and for imports. We met with Mexican business leaders and showcased what Greater Peoria can offer.' He also recently attended SelectUSA, the country's largest summit for foreign direct investment, as part of Team Illinois. 'Trade is so important to economics. It's all relationship-based. People do business with those they know,' he said. 'For a lot of foreign countries and foreign companies, they've never heard of Peoria to the extent they've heard of Illinois. 'They know about Chicago. So when they get a chance to meet with us, and others from central Illinois, we're able to really showcase what we have to offer them,' Setti said. Catch 'WMBD News: On the Record' on Saturday nights at 10 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Epic Charter School superintendent resigns after major cuts to staff, facilities
Epic Charter School superintendent resigns after major cuts to staff, facilities

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Epic Charter School superintendent resigns after major cuts to staff, facilities

Epic Charter School Superintendent Bart Banfield speaks at a meeting of the school's governing board on Nov. 14 at the 50 Penn Place complex in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — Amid mass layoffs of educators, the superintendent of Epic Charter School has resigned. The virtual charter school announced Monday that Bart Banfield has stepped down after six years in charge. Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Justin Hunt will lead the school in the interim while Epic's governing board searches for a permanent hire. Banfield led Epic during multiple turbulent periods while the school weathered criminal investigations, a forensic audit, a threat of closure and up-and-down enrollment. 'Bart Banfield's leadership has helped shape our school and strengthen its mission to provide an exceptional, personalized education for students across Oklahoma,' Ginger Casper, president of Epic's school board, said. 'We are grateful for his contributions and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.' During Banfield's tenure, Epic rapidly grew into the largest school district in Oklahoma in 2020 as families sought online schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Epic, now the state's third-largest district, has experienced declining enrollment ever since, which contributed to pay cuts and layoffs in October. District officials at the time said they overestimated their yearly enrollment by 4,000 students. This month, the school eliminated 357 teaching and administrative jobs in the latest round of staff cuts. It will close its in-person learning centers in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, as well. Epic's finances have been under the microscope for several years. The school's co-founders, Ben Harris and David Chaney, were charged in 2022 with embezzlement, racketeering and a litany of other financial crimes stemming from their leadership of Epic. Harris and Chaney deny allegations that they wrongfully pocketed millions of taxpayer dollars intended for Epic students. Former Epic CFO Josh Brock also was charged in the case and has agreed to testify against the co-founders in exchange for no prison time. Banfield succeeded Chaney as Epic's superintendent in 2019. He first joined Epic in 2014 as assistant superintendent of instruction. Harris and Chaney, whose company was paid to manage the school, remained intricately linked with Epic until 2021, when the school's governing board cut ties with them and their business. While facing threats of closure from the state, Epic's governing board and Banfield's administration implemented financial, organizational and transparency reforms that converted the school into a self-run entity without an outside company involved in its management. Until 2021, Harris and Chaney's company had run and profited from Epic since they founded the school in 2011. Hunt, who is now interim superintendent, experienced the transition along with Banfield. He was hired in 2017 as managing director of instruction and became deputy superintendent of instruction in 2021. 'Mr. Hunt brings with him a strong commitment to Epic's mission and a deep understanding of our community's needs,' Casper said. 'We are confident that his leadership will ensure continuity and stability as we move forward.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store