By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – Central Illinois Regional Airport is doubling up service to Minneapolis.
Airport spokeswoman Fran Strebing told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin CIRA currently has one daily flight to the northern hub arriving and departing each afternoon. The second flight will be at night.
“It will give us extra access to the west,” Strebing said. ” Going through Minneapolis you can get to the west coast. You can get to Denver. You get to Seattle.”
Strebing said the second Delta flight will start June 3 and will last at least through Sept. 2. CIRA last had the second flight to Minneapolis in 2013.
CIRA is crediting a milder winter with for providing a boost to its bottom line.
“Last year was difficult because we had a lot of ice,” airport director Carl Olson said. “Things like ice we have to treat on the air field and we have to use some chemicals or a certain type of sand. Last year was moderate but it will still more expensive than his year. This year we have been very fortunate so far.”
Olson said the airport can’t use road salt for deicing because it’s corrosive and can damage airplane parts.
Strebing said the moderate winter saved the airport about $75,000 in materials, fuel, maintenance and overtime.
The Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority is expected to approve a $14 million annual budget in May. Operating funds are set to drop one percent.
Olson said the airport authority has been able to keep the property tax rate for its general fund ($.04 per $100 valuation) unchanged since the authority was formed in 1964 by relying more on other revenue sources, such as using its land for farming and other aviation users.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
