Gary/Chicago International Airport is making strides toward bringing back commercial passenger flights.
Since 2020, the airport has primarily served as a hub for cargo, corporate, and private flights. For many residents, commercial passenger service has been absent since 2013, forcing travelers to fly out of Chicago or other nearby cities — taking potential revenue away from the local economy.
However, for the past few months, chatter about the return of passenger flights has increased.
“When people decide to move here, whether they come from Illinois or Michigan or elsewhere in the country, they should know that there’s this airport in their backyard that they can travel out of,” stated GCIA Executive Director Dan Vicari.
Here’s what we know about potential passenger commercial flights returning to the Gary area.
Why did commercial passenger flights stop at Gary/Chicago International Airport?
Allegiant Air operated at the airport until 2013, when the airport was in the middle of a major runway extension project. The runway had to be shortened during the project to create a safe area for construction and airplanes to coexist, however — physically, the airline was not able to stay at the airport.
The runway extension was completed in June 2015. Allegiant did not return, however, because of a shift to new aircraft, a pilot and crew shortage, and other reasons.
But even before construction forced Allegiant’s departure, the airline was facing challenges in sustaining service at the airport.
“We are always disappointed to end service in a community,” an Allegiant spokeswoman said after the last flight in 2013. “The airport has been a great partner to us, but unfortunately, we were not seeing a strong demand in the market, and we have a responsibility to use our resources where they are most successful.”
However, in 2012, 11,443 passengers flew out of the Gary/Chicago International Airport, according to FAA data.
What is the potential economic impact of passenger flights returning to Gary?
“I think the economic impact is primarily it hits on quality of life,” Vicari said.
With many families in the area traveling to Chicago or other surrounding cities’ airports, an exorbitant amount of money and time is spent traveling away from home. The development of the local airport allows more people to want to live in the area than elsewhere.
What destinations could be served?
Think family vacation hotspots:
- Orlando
- Las Vegas
- Atlanta
- Phoenix
- New York
What improvements have been made to prepare for passenger flights?
The last major renovation at the airport was in 2001, but projects have taken place to meet TSA standards and enhance traveler experience, including:
- Extending the runway
- Approving $70,430 toward refurbishing 76 passenger seats in the terminal
- Approving over $500,000 in renovations for new screening equipment, two passenger bridges connecting the terminal to planes, and renovations to the terminal’s interior.
- Designing and engineering a new airport control tower with a $1.7 million Federal Aviation Administration grant.
Most of this construction is scheduled to be completed by March 2025, though the new tower could extend into 2026.
When exactly will commercial flights be coming back to Gary and what airline?
While no official airline announcements have been made, Vicari hinted that an update is coming soon.
“I can’t tell you when it’s going to be, and I can’t tell you who it is,” he said, adding that a connection to Orlando would be a top priority. “[But] I don’t think it is going to be too far away.”