PIA Surpasses 80,000 Passengers for First Time in Airport History

Peoria, IL – July 2025 capped off a historic summer at General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport (PIA) with an unprecedented 80,836 passengers, a 26% increase over July 2024. This milestone not only sets a new all-time high, but also continues a remarkable trend, with 10 of the last 12 months setting monthly records.

“This is truly a milestone moment,” said Gene Olson, Director of Airports for the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria. “Crossing into the 80,000 range is something we’ve never seen before. It shows the strength of our market, the trust of our airlines, and the loyalty of our passengers who choose to Fly PIA.”

While July represents the peak of summer travel, airport officials note that demand naturally tapers in August with the return of the school year. Still, PIA is preparing for a busy Labor Day holiday weekend, with more than 14,000 travelers expected, representing a 17% increase over last year’s holiday weekend traffic.

“We’ve been operating about 20% ahead of last year’s passenger numbers,” Olson added. “If that momentum continues, we’ll have even more to celebrate as 2025 comes to a close.” PIA encourages Labor Day weekend travelers to plan ahead by checking their airline’s mobile apps, monitoring flight status, and arriving at least two hours prior to departure.

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