Southern Illinois leaders push for direct Marion-Chicago flights
Direct flights between Southern Illinois Veterans Airport in Marion and Chicago O'Hare International Airport will benefit the region in both business and tourism opportunities, a group of southern Illinois mayors and legislators say, and are urging the state to get behind funding it.
Currently, Cape Air, which has the air contract at Veterans Airport, has planes going to and from St. Louis and Nashville.
Local leaders want to add Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to that list, which will require a state subsidy between $1.6 million and $3.2 million depending on if one round-trip flight is made every day, or two. A one-way ticket would be $79, they estimate.
Last Friday, the mayors of Carbondale, Marion and Herrin joined state Sen. Dale Fowler and state Reps. Patrick Windhorst and Dave Severin in a meeting at the airport. Also present was Veterans Airport Director Doug Kimmel and several local business representatives.
"I personally am very excited about the concept of a 50-seat jet that could be 39 minutes wheels-up to wheels-down in Chicago," said Marion Mayor Mike Absher.
In 2019, the Veterans Airport board awarded a contract to Cape Air. The airline that did not get the contract, SkyWest, had pitched flights to Chicago. SkyWest Airlines serves major air carriers via contracts with American Airlines (as American Eagle) and United (as United Express), both of which operate at O'Hare.
Absher said providing such flights will benefit regional businesses with close Chicago ties as well as provide additional tourism opportunities for southern Illinois.
Kimmel, the airport director, said Cape Air is prepared to extend services to Chicago O'Hare if the state can provide the subsidy.
"This is something that will greatly benefit our area," said Carbondale Mayor Mike Henry.
Henry said he, Absher and other local leaders have been working cooperatively to bring opportunities to the region along the Illinois 13 corridor.
"Our position is, anything that benefits us benefits the entire Route 13 corridor," Henry said.
Absher agreed.
Business owners said the greater region will also benefit if a Marion-to-Chicago flight becomes available.
Cynde Bunch, who co-owns Walker's Bluff near Carterville with her husband Dave, said she frequently flies to Chicago on business. Currently, the most convenient option for her is to take a direct flight from Cape Girardeau to Chicago.
Landing passengers in Marion will plant them firmly in the middle of the southern Illinois region, she said, increasing the likelihood that Illinois dollars will stay in Illinois.
Windhorst, the Republican state representative from Metropolis, noted that the Paducah airport also provides service to Chicago, but its flight time is longer than the proposed Marion-Chicago route.