Ready for takeoff, QC Airport sees better year ahead with support from community

Ben Leischner, executive director for the Quad City International Airport, presented the program Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the Quad Cities Chamber's AMp Up event. The Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) talked about the impact COVID-19 has had on air travel at MLI and how the airport has responded, as well as the work being done to restore air service and how the community plays a role in these efforts. In alignment with Keep It QC and what IMEG Corp. President & CEO Paul VanDuyne said about the airport at the Chamber's Annual Celebration, Leischner encouraged Quad Citizens and business leaders to "fly local." 

"The better we can do at filling our existing service today will lead to new services tomorrow," Leischner said during AMp Up.

Below is a recap of Leischner's presentation provided by airport staff.

2020 was poised to be the Quad City International Airport’s best in several years. With traffic up and several projects on the horizon, there was a lot to look forward to. But, as with so many industries, the pandemic brought many challenges and changes. Here’s a snapshot of how the airport responded, where things currently stand and what passengers can look forward to in 2021 and beyond.

After a strong start, traffic quickly declined from 60,000 passengers per month to just over 2,700 in April. In July, traffic doubled month over month and began to stabilize heading into the fall. The year ended with a 58% decline year over year, which is slightly ahead of the national average.

The dramatic decline in traffic coupled with new safety recommendations and requirements meant airport staff had to act quickly to protect its workforce and passengers. New policies ensured employees could put their health and the health of their loved ones first. Safety measures were also added in the terminal, including Plexiglas at counters, social distancing decals, free face coverings, increased cleaning schedules and more. The QC Airport has always been known for its cleanliness, and a survey taken in July 2020 revealed 96% of respondents consider the airport clean – a designation that’s more important than ever.

However, questions remained about the safety of air travel during COVID-19. Several studies have shown that because of the frequent rate of exchange of fresh air that is then passed through HEPA filters, the risk of transmission of COVID-19 on airplanes is quite low, especially when paired with face coverings.

With all of this in place, a campaign called #WeGoQC launched to share these updates with the community. The goal was not only to educate but also to share why being a small airport has big advantages. The size of the QC Airport means there are fewer passengers at checkpoints, ample seating to spread out and no need for shuttles to and from parking lots.

Now, QC airport is looking toward recovery. Through a partnership with an air service development firm, airport leaders work with airlines to understand their interests, needs and plans for growth. Often, the economic health of the region plays a role in attracting service which is why collaboration between the airport, Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce and Visit Quad Cities are so important.

Quad Citizens also play a huge role in the airport’s growth – with so much emphasis on keeping it local for shopping and dining, it’s important not to exclude flying local, too. Whether it’s for vacation, visiting family or working with your employer to fly QC Airport whenever you can, keeping those dollars local will help attract and improve service over time.

Speaking of service, passengers may have noticed that three of the airport’s 11 nonstop destinations were paused over the summer due to the decline in traffic – United’s service to Denver, and Delta’s service to Detroit and Minneapolis. The good news is, each route was profitable for the airlines prior to COVID-19. Recently, United restored the Denver route starting Feb. 11. Airport leaders are optimistic Detroit and Minneapolis service will return soon.

There are other improvements on the horizon. The airport is adding solar energy through a public-private partnership, which will not only provide up to 50% of the airport’s energy but double as a covered parking option in the short-term lot. The airport also executed a contract with a curbside valet and coat check provider, which was finalized in February 2020 and will launch as soon as demand returns. Lastly, the airport has embarked on plans for a major terminal facelift. While customer experience and efficiency will be priorities, the airport is also taking this opportunity to make sure the airport reflects our great region and all the treasures it has to offer.