Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois (IATA:MWA,ICAO:KMWA,FAALID:MWA), also known asWilliamson County Regional Airport, is five miles west ofMarion, inWilliamson County,Illinois, United States. The airport is owned by the Williamson County Airport Authority.[1] It sees one airline, subsidized by the federal government'sEssential Air Service program at an annual cost of $2,562,819 or $141 per passenger.[2] On November 11, 2016 during the grand opening ceremony for the new terminal, the airport was renamed to "Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois" to honor veterans and better reflect the regional nature of the airport.[3]
The airport covers 1,300 acres (526ha) at an elevation of 472 feet (144 m). It has tworunways: the primary runway 2/20 is 8,012 by 150 feet (2,443 x 46 m)asphalt; and the crosswind runway 11/29 is 4,997 by 100 feet (1,523 x 30 m) asphalt/concrete.[1]
In the year ending December 31, 2022, the airport had 27,751 aircraft operations, an average of 76 per day: 69%general aviation, 31%air taxi and less than 1% military.[6]
In April 2024, there were 24 aircraft based at this airport: 18 single-engine, 4 multi-engine, 1 jet and 1 helicopter.
The airport has onefixed-base operator, Midwest Aviation, which is located at the base of thecontrol tower. Midwest Aviation has one rental aircraft, aCessna 172G1000 (N824MC). Midwest also has one crew car and also offers aircrafthangar space, aircraft washing, andfueling for both100LL andJet-A.
On October 23, 2007,Allegiant Air announced service toMcCarran International Airport inLas Vegas, Nevada. Service was to start on February 1, 2008 and would fly twice weekly; however, Allegiant dropped the plan on November 9, 2007, citing high fuel prices.[9]
In November 2022,Cape Air, which was the carrier serving the airport at the time, requested to terminate itsessential air service contract at the airport, citing rising costs that were causing it to lose money at the airport even with federal subsidies. Round-trip flights continued untilContour Airlines took over in August 2023.[10]
On December 21, 1978,TWA Flight 541 fromLouisville International Airport toKansas City International Airport was hijacked by 17-year-old Robin Oswald to Williamson in attempt to secure the release ofGarrett Brock Trapnell, who was serving time atUnited States Penitentiary, Marion for the January 28, 1972 hijacking of TWA Flight 2 from Los Angeles to New York. Oswald's mother, Barbara Oswald, had been killed on May 24, 1978, after hijacking a helicopter in an attempt to rescue Trapnell and Martin J. McNally, who was serving time for the June 23, 1972 hijacking of a St. Louis-Tulsa American Airlines flight. Robin Oswald surrendered after ten hours at the Williamson airport.[12][13]
There is no public transit service directly serving the airport. However,Rides Mass Transit District provides service nearby. The Marion-Carbondale Route stops on Meadowland Parkway Monday through Saturday.[14]
Order 2005-6-14: reselecting RegionsAir, Inc. d/b/a American Connection, formerly known as Corporate Airlines, to provide subsidized essential air service (EAS) at each of the above communities (Burlington, IA; Cape Girardeau, MO; Ft. Leonard Wood, MO; Jackson, TN; Marion/Herrin, IL; Owensboro, KY; Kirksville, MO) for a new two-year period from June 1, 2005, through May 31, 2007, for a combined annual subsidy of $7,306,249. Also by this order, the Department is terminating the show-cause proceeding tentatively terminating subsidy at Kirksville, Missouri, as RegionsAir's selected proposal is below the $200-per-passenger cap.
Order 2007-3-5: selecting Big Sky Transportation Co., d/b/a Big Sky Airlines, and Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. to provide subsidized essential air service (EAS) at the above communities (Burlington, IA; Cape Girardeau, MO; Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Jackson, TN; Marion/Herrin, IL, Owensboro, KY) for the two-year period from June 1, 2007, through May 31, 2009, using 19-seat Beech 1900D turboprop aircraft as follows: Big Sky at Cape Girardeau, Jackson, and Owensboro for a combined annual subsidy of $3,247,440; and Great Lakes at Burlington, Fort Leonard Wood, and Marion/Herrin for a combined annual subsidy of $2,590,461.
Order 2009-10-13: selecting Hyannis Air Service, Inc. d/b/a Cape Air, to provide subsidized essential air service (EAS) at Marion/Herrin, Quincy, and Cape Girardeau, for a two-year period beginning when Cape Air inaugurates full EAS at each of the three communities and ending at the close of the 24th month thereafter, at a combined annual subsidy rate of $5,469,768 ($2,053,783 for Marion/Herrin, $1,946,270 for Quincy, and $1,469,715 for Cape Girardeau). The Department is selecting Multi-Aero, Inc. d/b/a Air Choice One to provide subsidized EAS at Decatur, Illinois, and Burlington, Iowa, for a two-year period beginning when it inaugurates full EAS and ending at the close of the 24th month thereafter, at a combined annual subsidy of $5,253,644 ($3,082,403 for Decatur and $2,171,241 for Burlington). The Department is selecting Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. (Great Lakes) to provide subsidized EAS at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for the two-year period from November 1, 2009, through October 31, 2011, at an annual subsidy of $1,292,906.
Order 2011-4-12: re-selecting Hyannis Air Service, Inc. d/b/a Cape Air, to provide essential air service (EAS) at Marion/Herrin, Illinois (Marion) and Quincy, Illinois/Hannibal, Missouri (Quincy), and Cape Girardeau/Sikeston, Missouri (Cape Girardeau), for the four-year period from December 1, 2011, through November 30, 2015, for a combined annual subsidy rate of $5,689,438 ($2,104,616 for Marion, $1,956,856 for Quincy, and $1,627,966 for Cape Girardeau). Marion and Quincy will receive 36 weekly round trips and Cape Girardeau will receive 24 weekly round trips. All service will operate nonstop to/from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (St. Louis) using eight- or nine-passenger Cessna 402 aircraft.
