Service to Atlanta soars; Delta Airlines connects Peoria with Hartsfield-Jackson
Peoria - Travelers who caught the first new Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta to Peoria on Monday received more than the typical welcome upon exiting the plane.
To celebrate the new nonstop service between Peoria and Atlanta, airport personnel welcomed about 40 passengers who arrived on the 10:30 a.m. flight from Atlanta with cheers, balloons and treats. Everyone with interests invested in Gen. Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport was looking forward to Monday arriving.
"Atlanta is the biggest hub in the country, with around 260 direct destinations, so now people can fly from Peoria directly to Atlanta and make connections almost anywhere," said Gary Stella, chairman of the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria board, emphasizing the fact that the new service will open up personal and professional transactions in both domestic and international markets. "This is a significant marketing opportunity."
Peoria resident Demetra Bolden and her son Richard were excited to be on board the flight from Atlanta after enjoying spring break in Fort Myers, Fla.
"This is very convenient because we usually go to Bloomington's airport," said Demetra Bolden, "but we live here in Peoria, so now we won't have to drive there to catch our flight."
LaMarco Toussaint, a Peoria resident who works at Avis Car Rental in the airport, found Monday morning's flight quite suitable on his trip back from Orlando, Fla.
"The flight took an hour, but driving would take 12 hours," said Toussaint.
Gene Olson, Peoria's director of airports, said he is excited that 150 passengers per day can travel to Atlanta. Delta will operate three daily flights on 50-seat jets.
"This will help both business and leisure passengers get to different parts of the world by restoring access to a hub where people want to go," said Olson.
Delta stopped operating two daily flights on a regional affiliate between the cities in August 2009. According to airport statistics, those flights operated at 75 percent or more capacity on a monthly basis.
Creve Coeur resident Theda Fortier was scheduled to board the 10:55 a.m. flight to Atlanta, and because of her employment with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, she is thankful for the convenience the new flight offers.
"I fly a lot and I don't like lay-overs, so it's going to be nice just going south instead of going north to Chicago first and sitting for four hours," said Fortier.
Olson said the three flights to Atlanta will help fill the void of other area airlines that soon will cease operating. The flights, scheduled in the morning, midday and evening, will be offered seven days a week barring any unexpected obstacles on a particular day.
"There's going to be a vacuum from AirTran stopping its flights in Bloomington, so by getting these flights, we will be partially filling that vacuum," said Olson.
Eric Engel can be reached at 686-3194 or [email protected]
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