Gen. Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport (PIA) is celebrating a landmark achievement, concluding 2025 as its busiest year in history. The airport surpassed its previous records, welcoming over 812,000 passengers. This significant growth signals a "real shift" in the airport’s trajectory, moving beyond its past performance and embracing future expansion.
Key Takeaways
- PIA recorded a total of 812,396 passengers in 2025, a 65% increase since 2009.
- The airport set a new monthly passenger record in December 2025, with over 70,600 travelers.
- This marks the 15th monthly record in the last 17 months, indicating sustained growth.
- The 2025 total is an 18% increase compared to the pre-pandemic record set in 2019.
- Significant infrastructure projects are underway to support continued expansion.
A Year of Unprecedented Success
Airport administrators and staff gathered to announce the final passenger count for 2025, a year that saw the annual record broken even before December. Director of Airports Gene Olson expressed his initial disbelief, especially after anticipating a dip due to a government shutdown. "When we broke the record in November and then saw a number in December big enough to top over 800,000, I was almost in disbelief," Olson stated.
Olson highlighted the dramatic increase in passenger volume since he joined the airport in 2009, when the annual count was approximately 493,000 passengers. The 2025 figure represents a substantial 65% surge. Furthermore, the airport experienced its busiest December on record, with more than 70,600 passengers passing through. This achievement is part of a larger trend, with 15 out of the last 17 months setting new monthly passenger highs.
Investing in the Future
To accommodate this burgeoning demand and ensure continued growth, PIA is undertaking several key infrastructure improvements. A $9.3 million taxiway rehabilitation project is slated to commence this spring. Plans are also in development for a new parking facility along Dirksen Parkway.
The first phase of construction for a new air traffic control tower is nearing completion, with the second phase scheduled to begin in May. This project represents a significant local investment of $25.5 million. Olson anticipates the new tower will be fully operational by late summer 2027, with the demolition of the old tower potentially occurring in 2028 after necessary cabling and commissioning are finalized.
A Shift in Capacity and Demand
Olson described the 2025 passenger record as a "game-changer," underscoring the airport’s evolution and its ability to meet the growing needs of the Peoria and Central Illinois region. "What it really shows is that the airlines have increased capacity here," he explained. "They’ve added seats, they’ve added flights, we’ve got larger airplanes—and the Peoria and Central Illinois region has responded by using that capacity."
