Willard Airport is working to offer new services to the East Coast over the next few months. 

The airport received a $500,000 grant in August 2012 from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Community Air Service Development Program. Willard, which currently provides five flights to and from Chicago O’Hare and one flight to and from Dallas-Fort Worth daily, will use the grant to market a new airline service to the east.

“Right now, the Willard administration is looking at trying to arrange a direct flight from Willard to Washington, D.C.,” said Bruce Walden, director of real estate planning and services for the University, which owns the airport. “If that doesn’t work, we’ll look at other east coast destinations.”

Walden said the Willard administration is focused on D.C. not only because of the large number of University employees who travel to the area, but also because of the large amount of federal research dollars the University uses.

“That is a route that we in the community could support and sustain,” Walden said.

Mike Kirchhoff, president and CEO of Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, said he also thinks the additional service will benefit students, staff and the airport.

“Any increase in service at Willard Airport is a positive benefit to the airport’s position and a key asset in our economic development strategy,” Kirchhoff said.

In addition to benefitting students, Kirchhoff said a direct flight would better serve companies in the University Research Park.

Willard has recently arranged for meetings with perspective carriers, which will occur over the next few months.

Walden said the airport, currently served by American Eagle Airlines, will work to expand its current destinations and help secure financial stability for the airport in order to provide destinations and fares that are convenient to the area.

“More destinations from Willard would improve service to the area,” Walden said. “It would help sustain the airport and would provide benefit in terms of ease of travel and convenience for those who wish to travel to any destination that we are lucky enough to secure.”

Students such Joseph Nocco, junior in Media and originally from Connecticut, said having an airport directly connected to the east from Champaign-Urbana would make traveling much easier. 

“Currently, I have to fly from Willard to O’Hare and then home,” he said. “The flight from Willard to Chicago is only 25 minutes and is the most expensive part of my trip. If there was a flight directly to the east coast, it would make my life a lot easier when traveling back home.”

Hannah Prokop contributed to this report. Jacqui can be reached at [email protected].