Decatur Airport is a public airport five miles east of Decatur, in Macon County, Illinois, United States. The airport is owned by the Decatur Park District. Airline service is subsidized by the federal government's Essential Air Service program at a cost of $2,667,922 (per year). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2021–2025 categorized it as a regional general aviation facility. It is the eleventh busiest of the 12 commercial airports in Illinois.

Facilities and aircraft

Decatur Airport covers 2,100 acres (850 ha) at an elevation of 682 feet (208 m). It has three runways: 6/24 is 8,496 by 150 feet (2,590 x 46 m) asphalt/concrete; 12/30 is 6,799 by 150 feet (2,072 x 46 m) asphalt/concrete; 18/36 is 5,298 by 150 feet (1,615 x 46 m) asphalt. In the 12-month period ending December 31, 2020, the airport had 29,285 aircraft operations, an average of 80 per day: 78% general aviation, 15% military, 4% air taxi and 3% commercial airline. In April 2022, there were 62 aircraft based at this airport: 50 single-engine airplanes and 12 military. Decatur Airport has a 24000 sqft passenger terminal with airline counters, a restaurant, baggage claim area, and car rental counters. The Illinois Army National Guard has an Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) at the airport. The facility occupies 10 acre and has three permanent buildings and a temporary building on the site.

Airline and destination

On 11 March 2022, SkyWest (flying as United Express) notified the U.S. Department of Transportation that it intended to end its Essential Air Service into DEC in June 2022, which would leave the airport with no scheduled passenger service. However, the Department of Transportation has refused to allow SkyWest to terminate service to Decatur.

Ground transportation

Public transit service to the airport is provided by Decatur Public Transit System. Route 12 operates Monday through Saturday from downtown Decatur to the airport, while Route 3 serves the airport on Sundays.

Accidents and incidents

Other sources