For More Information:  

Carl G. Olson

Executive Director

Central Illinois Regional Airport

309.663.7384  

2008 Another Record Year for CIRA

New Benchmark Set for Total Passengers using the Airport

( Bloomington , IL , January 9, 2009 )…For 2008, the Central Illinois Regional Airport generated another record for passenger traffic, besting the previous record set in 2007.  A total of 532,870 passengers used the Central Illinois Regional Airport in 2008, inching out last year’s figure of 532,075.  This was CIRA’s sixth consecutive year of increases in passenger traffic and its third straight year of record setting passenger numbers.

 “This is a very positive outcome to a year that was full of challenges for the aviation industry,” said Paul Harmon, Chairman of the Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority. “We are grateful that the strength of the Bloomington-Normal and central Illinois community has helped the airport continue to grow during these uncertain economic times.  While this increase is not as large as some of our previous years, given the reduced traffic that the industry is experiencing, we’re very pleased to announce another positive year.”

  Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal is perfectly positioned at the cross roads of Interstates 74, 55 and 39 to offer convenient access to air travel to the downstate Illinois area.  Air service on four airlines – AirTran Airways, American Eagle, Delta Connection and Northwest -  with  service to major hubs as well as nonstop service to Orlando , Florida provides the region with hundreds of business and leisure travel destinations.  The lowest average fares downstate and free automobile parking make CIRA the airport of choice for central Illinois .  In 2008, the airport welcomed a new daily nonstop flight on American Eagle to their major hub at  Dallas-Ft. Worth , Texas . ##