'Transformative Day': Community Leaders Celebrate Arrival of Decatur Jet Service
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DECATUR — Community leaders on Friday celebrated the arrival of jet service at Decatur Airport, a move they hope will strengthen the local economy and bring additional federal funding to the airport.
The airport’s new carrier is SkyWest Airlines, which is a regional partner of United Express. Its 50-seat jets will offer 12 flights per week to O'Hare International Airport. The service replaces Cape Air, which had offered flights to St. Louis and Chicago on 8-seat Cessna 402 aircraft.
“Look at that jet service and understand what this means to Decatur,” said U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, a Taylorville Republican who spoke at a news conference at the airport Friday. “It means you can book one ticket, you can flawlessly and effortlessly go through O’Hare airport, as much as that is possible.
“Understand it means you can get a cost-effective round trip on virtually any business trip you want to take, any vacation you’d like to take.”
Local elected officials, community leaders and several media representatives took the first 6 a.m. flight out of Decatur on Friday before returning for the news conference. They were greeted by a crowd of supporters and catered hors 'd'oeuvres from the airport’s Red Barn Kitchen restaurant. High school band members from the Lutheran School Association stood outside near the runway, playing Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4” and the theme song from “Rocky” as passengers disembarked.
“This is a transformative day that will shape Decatur’s future,” said Nicole Bateman, community marketing manager for Limitless Decatur and Macon County. “Our local companies are exceptional at moving products throughout the world, and now we can provide exceptional connectivity for people who desire to visit the Decatur region for business and for pleasure.”
Decatur’s commercial air service is subsidized through the federal Essential Air Service program, which ensures people can fly in less populated areas of the country. The U.S. Department of Transportation in December selected SkyWest to receive the $2,993,168 contract for service through Jan. 31, 2022.
The Decatur Park District, which manages the airport, recommended SkyWest, and community and business leaders had also offered support. The park district also had advocated unsuccessfully for SkyWest in 2017, changing direction after initially recommending Cape Air. The switch came after Archer Daniels Midland Co. officials and other business leaders weighed in with a preference for SkyWest. The federal agency in 2017 ultimately chose Cape Air, citing the higher cost to subsidize jet service.
But air service under Cape Air did not reach a long-held goal for the park district: 10,000 enplanements, or passengers flying out of the airport. Reaching that benchmark would qualify the airport for $1 million from the Federal Aviation Administration towards infrastructure costs.
“That’s money that can come back into the local economy with jobs,” said airport director Tim Wright, adding that recent construction at the airport was completed by local contractors.
The goal hasn't been reached since 2006. But progress has moved forward over time — from 1,232 in 2008 to more than 8,000 in 2018.
Officials stressed that SkyWest's partnership with United Express would translate to a smooth experience when connecting flights. Suzanne Whal, sales manager for United Airlines, said passengers flying into O'Hare would have access to 280 destinations in the Americas and 41 international destinations. "We really open up the world to you," she said.
Blake Bronson, regional manager for SkyWest, said he was confident that the new air service could meet the enplanement goal.
"Our numbers have proven very well in other markets of similar size," he said. "With the current flight schedule, it’s going to work out very well."
Flights will take off from Decatur daily at 6 a.m. On Sundays through Fridays, an additional flight leaving Decatur at 12:12 p.m. will also be available. (Wright noted that the second daily flight would not be available on Tuesdays until April.)
For return travelers, a daily flight will leave O'Hare at 9:25 p.m. On Sundays through Fridays, there will also be a flight leaving O'Hare at 10:35 a.m.
To accommodate the larger flights, the park district spent roughly $94,000 to expand and upgrade the waiting area for passengers who have passed through security. Previously, it was only large enough for 14 people, Wright said.
The changes allowed the space to accommodate 50 passengers, adding a restroom and a coffee area.
SkyWest will have 18 employees in Decatur handling ticketing, baggage and other duties, Wright said.
Alec Johnston, operations manager of Red Barn Kitchen, said the restaurant's management was excited about the prospect of more traffic coming through. The restaurant, which opened in 2018, serves some travelers, but most customers are area residents who make the drive to the airport to enjoy its locally sourced menu, uniquely crafted cocktails and regularly changing menu, he said.
But that might change, as the restaurant could adjust some hours to accommodate more passengers as the jet service becomes more popular. It is currently open from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
"(We'll) wait to see how everything shakes out, but in the future we are hoping for an extra meal period or something to catch more travelers," Johnston said. "We’ve got a lot of stuff in the works, so we’re just playing it by ear right now."
Contact Allison Petty at (217) 421-6986. Follow her on Twitter: @allison0512
AT A GLANCE
WHAT HAPPENED: Decatur Airport will now offer commercial air service on a 50-passenger jet. SkyWest Airlines provides the service under the umbrella of United Express.
WHEN ARE THE FLIGHTS: Daily flights leave Decatur at 6 a.m. and take off from Chicago at 9:25 p.m. On Sundays through Fridays, additional flights leave Chicago at 10:35 a.m. and take off from Decatur at 12:12 p.m.
HOW TO BOOK: Go to united.com or call 1-800-846-8331.
ONLINE
Visit herald-review.com to see more photos from the first 6 a.m. flight out of Decatur and video of officials' celebratory news conference.
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