Purdue to restart commercial air travel to and from Chicago O'Hare
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Commercial flights between West Lafayette and Chicago's O'Hare International Airport will resume in 2024, Purdue University announced Friday.
The Board of Trustees approved an agreement between Purdue, Surf Air Mobility and Southern Airways Express that would restart commercial air service dormant for two decades. The terminal connecting Greater Lafayette to Chicago is likely to be named after famed aviator Amelia Earhart when the board votes on the item in February.
Earhart, the first woman to fly nonstop and solo across the Atlantic Ocean, became a Purdue faculty member in 1935. She flew in and out of West Lafayette in the 1930s when the airport was the only university-owned airport in the nation, the university news release stated.
Purdue sought and received approval from the Earhart family to name the approximately 8,000-square-foot terminal — to be located west of the existing location — after the aviation pioneer, whose plane went missing July 2, 1937, during her unsuccessful flight around the world. Earhart has never been found.
“Purdue and the neighboring community are pleased to welcome Southern Airways Express to the Purdue University Airport,” Purdue President Mung Chiang said. “We could not do this without the outstanding support of Gov. Eric Holcomb, (Indiana Economic Development Corp.), the mayors of both Lafayette and West Lafayette, (Greater Lafayette Chamber), the (Federal Aviation Administration) and countless others.
"With the economic growth momentum here, I know that Purdue faculty, staff, students and alumni will be thrilled for the university and local communities to once again have direct access to the global aviation network after 20 years without scheduled commercial airline service," Chiang said.
The airport call letters for the two destinations are: LAF (Purdue) and ORD (Chicago O'Hare).
Restarting commercial air travel between Greater Lafayette and Chicago is part of the "Purdue Flies" initiative, the university announced. The initiative also includes expansion of Discovery Park District.
“Additionally, as home to one of the top aviation technology and aerospace engineering programs in the country, we look forward to exploring innovation, educational and career opportunities for our students," Chiang said, noting that the air service will create jobs for the area and expand prosperity in Greater Lafayette.
"And the opportunity to honor Amelia Earhart makes it even more special,” he said.
The restart of air service was celebrated by a number of state and municipal leaders, including Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg.
“Increased connectivity — particularly to and from a truly global destination like Purdue — is a significant contributor to advancing community and economic vitality," Rosenberg said, "and we are thrilled to welcome Southern Airways to Indiana, reviving commercial air service for students, educators, innovators and visitors alike.”
Outgoing West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis noted the domino effect of having commercial air service in and out of the area.
“The idea of having an airport here that can support a major carrier is absolutely phenomenal," Dennis said. "It’s great on the social level, it’s great on the international level, and, obviously, it’s super great on the economic level.”
The idea of air service remained on the minds of officials such as Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski, whose led the city for nearly as long as the air service has lain dormant.
“We’ve been working on bringing back commercial air service for several years. We’ve all committed $7 million (in Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative funds) to help do the upgrades and construct the terminal that’s needed to make this possible," Roswarski stated in a news release. "It’s been a collaborative community effort to bring all these pieces together.”
State Sen. Spencer Deery, in a comment via email to the Journal & Courier Friday afternoon, stated that the air travel connection will be a boon for the community.
"This service will help our community continue to grow in smart, sustainable ways that will lead to even more air service and economic prosperity in years to come," Spencer stated. "Tippecanoe County's best days are still ahead of us."
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Partnership restarts commercial air travel between Purdue, O'Hare
