United adding non-stop service between Peoria and Denver

PEORIA, Ill. – United Airlines and Peoria’s Wayne A. Downing International Airport are announcing daily, non-stop service between Denver and Peoria.

Airport Director Gene Olson says the new flights will begin March 30, with tickets going on sale today (Thursday).

Daily flights to Denver will be on 76-seat regional jets with two classes of service.

The schedule includes an 8:50 a.m. leaving Peoria and arriving in Denver at 10:30 a.m., with return service leaving at 5:21 p.m. and arriving back in Peoria at 8:50 p.m., all times local, the airport announced.

“We’re very happy to announce these new flights working together in partnership with United.  We know the business community in Central Illinois has been asking for access to Denver and points west for a long time,” said Gene Olson, Director of Airports for the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria. “Denver will serve as a convenient connecting hub to get our fliers to many locations up and down the west coast as well as making connections easier to international destinations.” Olson said.

PIA applied for and won a grant in 2023 under the Small Community Air Service Development Program, with non-stop service to Denver as the goal.

“United is pleased to launch the only daily nonstop flight between Central Illinois and Denver,” said Mark Weithofer, United’s Managing Director, Domestic Network Planning.  “This service will increase connectivity to United’s comprehensive global network, and build upon our existing schedule to Chicago O’Hare”