The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) released the Illinois Aviation System Plan Thursday, the first comprehensive study of the state’s aviation goals and needs in more than 25 years.
The plan identifies the short- and long-term needs and goals for the state’s airports. In recognition of the plan’s release, Gov. JB Pritzker announced he was naming August Aviation Appreciation Month in his state.
“Aviation is one part of a diverse, multimodal system of transportation that connects Illinois to the rest of the world and gives us a competitive edge unlike any other state,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman said. “Under Gov. Pritzker, IDOT has been focused on strengthening this system and working with communities to invest in their transportation assets. The new Illinois Aviation System Plan gives IDOT and our local partners a blueprint for how airports can help rebuild Illinois.”
The report analyzed the state’s 81 public and four private airports, and, using IDOT’S Long-Range Transportation Plan as a guide, looked at ways the airports and the aviation system as a whole can support local economies, improve the quality of life and boost mobility.
According to the study, 81 percent of Illinois’ residents live within a half an hour of an airport with instrument flight capabilities. The study also found that passenger enplanements are expected to grow to 77.8 million (a 49 percent increase) by 2039. Half of the state’s airports are less than a mile from a major road, while 88 percent are within two miles of one, the study found.
A report released in 2021, the Illinois Aviation Economic Impact Analysis, found that the state’s airports contribute $95.5 billion to the state’s economy each year, and support more than 492,768 jobs.