Champaign, Illinois: Airport Accessibility And Convenience

Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, is served by the University of Illinois Willard Airport (IATA: CMI, ICAO: KCMI, FAA LID: CMI). The airport is located in Tolono Township, Champaign County, around 5-6 miles south of downtown Champaign. It is owned and operated by the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and was dedicated on October 26, 1945, with airline flights commencing in 1954. The airport offers connections to several major hubs, enabling passengers to travel to destinations worldwide.

University of Illinois Willard Airport

Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, is served by the University of Illinois Willard Airport. The airport is located in Tolono Township, Champaign County, around five miles south of downtown Champaign, just off US Route 45. It is owned and operated by the University of Illinois and was named for former university president Arthur Cutts Willard.

The airport was dedicated in October 1945 and airline flights began in 1954. Willard Airport has three runways and five gates in its terminal building. The airport covers 1,799 acres and, for the year ending December 31, 2021, averaged 127 aircraft operations per day, or around 46,000 per year.

The airport is served by American Airlines, which offers flights to destinations including San Diego, Harry Reid International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Tampa International, and more. American Airlines requires a minimum check-in time of 45 minutes before your flight, including checked baggage.

Ground transportation options from the airport include rental cars, car-sharing, taxi, limo, Uber, and Lyft. There are four car rental agencies with offices in the terminal building. The nearest expressway exit is Exit 229 (Monticello Road) on Interstate 57, around a four-mile drive from the terminal. Parking facilities include a paid parking lot, rental car parking lot, and curbside loading zone.

In 2023, Willard Airport was named Primary Airport of the Year. The airport has 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.

Airlines and destinations

Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, has an airport called the University of Illinois Willard Airport (CMI). It is a small airport with domestic flights only.

As of January 2023, American Airlines is the only airline flying from Willard Airport, with non-stop flights to Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago O'Hare. These flights are operated by American Eagle, with two daily flights to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on 75-seat ERJs, and two daily ERJ flights to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on ERJ-170s. These aircraft offer a dual cabin configuration with First-Class and Economy.

Previously, Delta Air Lines, Vision Airlines, and United Airlines offered services from Willard Airport, but these have since been discontinued.

Willard Airport has also announced plans to expand its services, with larger planes servicing Dallas–Fort Worth, and expanded service to Chicago O'Hare.

Alternative Airports

The nearest alternative airports to Willard Airport are Decatur Airport (34 miles away) and Bloomington Airport (45 miles away). Other nearby airports include Springfield, Lafayette, and Peoria. These alternative airports offer flights to other destinations, such as Peoria International Airport, Central Illinois Regional Airport, or Indianapolis International Airport.

Transport to and from the airport

The University of Illinois Willard Airport (IATA: CMI, ICAO: KCMI, FAA LID: CMI) is located in Savoy, Champaign County, Illinois, just off US 45. It is around 5-6 miles from downtown Champaign.

By Car:

The airport is accessible by car via U.S. Route 45, and the nearest expressway exit is Exit 229 (Monticello Road) on Interstate 57, about a four-mile drive from the terminal. There are parking facilities available, including a paid parking lot, a rental car parking lot, and a curbside loading zone.

By Bus:

While there is no direct public transit service to the airport as of 2023, the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District provides bus services approximately one mile northeast of the airport in Savoy.

By Taxi:

Taxis are available at the airport for transport to and from the surrounding areas.

By Rideshare:

Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft are also available for transport to and from the airport.

Nearby Airports:

For those willing to travel a bit further, there are several nearby airports that offer additional transportation options:

• Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) - approximately 2.5 hours drive away.
• Indianapolis International Airport (IND) - approximately 2 hours drive away.
• Bloomington Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI) - approximately 1 hour drive away.
• Peoria International Airport (PIA) - 85.6 miles away.
• Lambert-St. Louis International Airport - approximately 3 hours drive away.

History of the airport

The University of Illinois Willard Airport, often referred to by its FAA designation "CMI", is located in Tolono Township, Champaign County, Illinois, United States. It is one of only two commercial airports in the country owned and operated by an educational institution. The airport is named after former University of Illinois president Arthur Cutts Willard and was dedicated on 26 October 1945.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign established its Institute of Aviation at the airport in 1946, which was taken over by Parkland College in 2014. The first scheduled airline service at the airport began in 1954, with the first terminal building being constructed in 1960. By 1969, Willard Airport had become the second-busiest airport in Illinois. However, following the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, many airlines found service to small airports inefficient, and demand for tickets from Willard decreased. This caused a decline in airlines servicing the airport, and by 2013, traffic at Willard had significantly decreased.

Despite this, the airport has continued to operate and expand its services. In January 2023, it was announced that larger planes would service Dallas-Fort Worth, and expanded service would be offered to Chicago O'Hare. The Institute of Aviation also announced an expanded pilot training program. Additionally, plans are in place to expand the passenger terminal and TSA facilities and to upgrade the taxiway design to remain aligned with FAA standards.

Nearby airports

Champaign, Illinois is served by the University of Illinois Willard Airport (IATA: CMI, ICAO: KCMI, FAA LID: CMI). The airport is located in Savoy, about 5 miles south of downtown Champaign. It is owned and operated by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and was named for former University of Illinois president Arthur Cutts Willard.

While the University of Illinois Willard Airport is the closest airport to Champaign, there are several other nearby airports that travellers can consider. Here is a list of alternative airports in the region:

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

Chicago O'Hare is located approximately 130 miles from Champaign and is accessible by bus, with the journey taking around 3 hours and 45 minutes. It is one of the major airline hubs that passengers from Champaign can connect through to reach destinations worldwide.

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)

Chicago Midway is another option in the Chicago area, situated around 119 miles from Champaign. The driving time to this airport is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Indianapolis International Airport (IND)

Located in the state capital of Indiana, Indianapolis International Airport is about a 2-hour drive from Champaign and is an alternative for travellers willing to venture a bit further.

Bloomington Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI)

Closer than the Chicago airports, Bloomington Central Illinois Regional Airport is approximately an hour's drive from Champaign and may be a convenient option for those travelling by car.

Peoria International Airport (PIA)

Peoria International Airport is another airport in Illinois that is a bit further away, at about 85 miles from Champaign.

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL)

For those willing to drive a bit further, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is about a 3-hour drive from Champaign and offers connections to a range of destinations.

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