Image Air closes after 46 years, airport says transition of services will be smooth

Image Air is located at 2933 East Empire Street in Bloomington. (Photo HOI ABC)

 

By HOI ABC

BLOOMINGTON – A family business has closed its doors in the Twin-Cities after more than four decades serving the Central Illinois Regional Airport.

Image air, a former fixed-base operator for CIRA, closed on Friday after 46 years, according to our news partner Heart of Illinois ABC.

The company provided ground handling services, plane fueling, charters, flight training, corporate travel and aviation maintenance.

Until last week the airport had two fixed-based operators, Image Air and Synergy Flight, to provide service to the four airlines that fly in and out of Bloomington.

Synergy Flight, which has taken over for Image Air, has been on airport property for seven years which is making things easier according to the airport authority.

“If it had been an outside company that had come in we would’ve had to have a different set of discussions but because they are already authorized and established here they will take over those duties,” CIRA Deputy Director of Marketing Fran Strebing said.

Strebing said the change will not disrupt any flights and that Synergy Flight is now in possession of Image Air’s building.

WJBC News can be reached at [email protected]

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