University of Illinois Willard Airport | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | ||||||||||||||||||
| Serves | Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Tolono Township, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 754 ft / 230 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 40°02′21″N88°16′41″W / 40.03917°N 88.27806°W /40.03917; -88.27806 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website | iflycu | ||||||||||||||||||
| Maps | |||||||||||||||||||
 FAA airport diagram | |||||||||||||||||||
 Interactive map of University of Illinois Willard Airport | |||||||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Source:Federal Aviation Administration[1] | |||||||||||||||||||
University of Illinois Willard Airport (IATA:CMI,ICAO:KCMI,FAALID:CMI) – also known asWillard Airport andChampaign–Urbana Airport – is south ofSavoy inTolono Township, Champaign County, Illinois, United States. It is owned and operated by theUniversity of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and is named for former University of Illinois presidentArthur Cutts Willard.
The airport was dedicated on 26 October 1945. Airline flights began in 1954.[2] The terminal building built in 1960[3] was used until the present terminal was completed in 1987.[4] By 1969, Willard was the second-busiest airport in the state of Illinois.[3] After theAirline Deregulation Act of 1978, many airlines found service to small airports to be inefficient. As the price differential to airfares from major hub airports such asChicago O'Hare grew, demand for tickets from Willard fell and caused airlines to leave.
Until 2014, the airport was home to theUniversity of Illinois Institute of Aviation, a research and pilot training facility. The university trustees voted to shutter the institute in 2011 while allowing enrolled students to complete their studies. In 2013, the university agreed to transfer the pilot training function of the institute toParkland College, a local community college.[5] The university continues to operate the airport and provides an annual subsidy of $433,000 for its operations.[6]
Traffic at Willard airport declined significantly from 2005 to 2013. According to FAA published data, in CY2013 there were 84,853 passenger enplanements compared to 132,077 in 2005.[7] Overall traffic also declined to 54,653 total Combined TRACON / Tower operations in CY 2013 compared to 123,341 in CY2005.[8]
The airport gained some notoriety for a January 21, 1998, incident in whichAir Force One became stuck in mud, requiring a backup aircraft to transport President Bill Clinton from a speaking engagement at the University of Illinois'Assembly Hall. The pilot opted to enter the main taxiway from the ramp using a feeder taxiway with an unusually large angle. Due to the wide turn, the right main gear left the taxiway and slipped into the soft turf, causing the aircraft to be lodged in the mud. The Air Force dispatched backup aircraftSAM26000, which first entered service during theKennedy Administration and would be retired later in 1998.[9]
In January 2023, the airport announced that larger planes will service Dallas–Fort Worth and that expanded service will be offered to Chicago O'Hare. Also, the Institute of Aviation announced an expanded pilot training program.[10]
The airport also announced plans to expand the passenger terminal and TSA facilities as well as to upgrade the taxiway design to remain aligned with FAA standards. In addition, plans for new firefighting facilities are in the works, especially featuring the airport's first new fire truck in 19 years.
Willard Airport covers 1,799 acres (728 ha) and has threerunways:[1]
The terminal has five gates.
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2021, the airport averaged 127 aircraft operations per day, or roughly 46,000 per year. This includes 70%general aviation, 28%air taxi, <1%military, and <1%commercial. For the same time period, there were 75 aircraft based on the field: 56 single-engine and 4 multi-engineairplanes, 12jets, and 3helicopters.[11]
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| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| American Eagle | Chicago–O'Hare,Dallas/Fort Worth |
American Eagle has two daily flights toDallas Fort Worth International Airport on 75-seatERJs and two daily ERJ flights to Chicago'sO'Hare International Airport on ERJ-170s. Those aircraft come in a dual cabin configuration offering First-Class and Economy.
Delta Air Lines dropped Willard Airport on August 31, 2010.[12]Vision Airlines also ceased service to Willard Airport on January 6, 2012, after three weeks of service.[13]United Airlines as well ceased service to Willard Airport on September 5, 2018, after a year of service.[14]
The airport saw a 72% decrease in arrival and departure passengers during the first year of theCOVID-19 pandemic. That loss cost the airport roughly $500,000. Demand had recovered by 2022, and the airport began seeking ways to attract additional flights toWashington, DC.[15][16]
The airport is in the process of bringing in routes to leisure destinations, such as Las Vegas, Florida, and Arizona. This requires raising money to support a minimum revenue guarantee for prospective airlines operating these routes.[17] As of December 2024, the airport has raised $850,000 of the $1 million they hope to raise.[18]
| Rank | Airport | Passengers | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas | 43,290 | American |
| 2 |  Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois | 41,860 | American |
As of 2023, there is no public transit service to the airport. TheChampaign–Urbana Mass Transit District provides service approximately one mile to the northeast in Savoy.
Fourcar rental agencies have offices in the terminal building.[20] The airport is reached fromU.S. Route 45, five miles south of downtown Champaign. The nearest expressway exit is Exit 229 (Monticello Road) onInterstate 57, about a four-mile drive from the terminal. Parking facilities include a paid parking lot, rental car parking lot, and curbside loading zone.[21]
In 2016, the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation commissioned an Economic Impact Report with support from community sponsors.[22] The report found that the airport had a total of $74,325,994 annual economic impact and a $204,000 daily impact within Champaign County. The 23,266 visitors coming to the area each year because of the airport helped created 112.8 jobs locally. Further, the airport was found to generate $10.2 million in annual tax receipts and $2.3 million in annual local taxes. More than $800,000 of these tax dollars go to local schools.
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