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Located in McLean County, Illinois, three miles southeast of Normal and east of Bloomington, is the public Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington-Normal. Central Illinois Regional Airport (CIRA) is another name for the airport, which is owned by the Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority. Being an airport has several meanings for different individuals, some of which you might not be aware of. CIRA is one such example. Central Illinois Regional Airport is a public facility under the jurisdiction of the Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority (BNAA), a separate municipality. The Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority Board of Commissioners, which consists of seven locally selected members, convenes once a month to decide on policies, authorize projects and expenses, and assist in formulating the organization's future direction.
It was designated as a key commercial service airport in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2023–2027. According to data kept by the Federal Aviation Administration, the airport saw 262,846 passenger boarding (enplanements) in 2008, 243,448 in 2009, and 274,677 in 2010. With 159,897 passengers boarding in 2021, Central Illinois Regional Airport was the 188th busiest airport in the country. The airport's control tower was scheduled to close as a result of the 2013 Federal sequestration. However the Federal Aviation Administration eventually changed its mind. Runways at the airport are two.
Three times the size of the former terminal, a new $14 million terminal building was opened by the airport on November 5, 2001. There are five second level gates (Gates 5–9) and four ground level boarding gates (Gates 1-4) in new terminal. There are jetways at gates 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9. Jetway capability exists for gates 1, 2, and 7, although they are not yet installed. There are two ground-level baggage carousels at the terminal. Business visitors are catered to with conference spaces and a VIP lounge. There is complimentary wireless Internet connection available all across the building. There is a strong general aviation presence at CIRA. Synergy Flight Center, the field's fixed-base operator, provides basic FBO services in addition to private and advanced flight training, aircraft maintenance, sales, and charter. Facilities for aircraft repair, fuelling, and hangar rental are offered. There were 23,199 aircraft movements at the airport in the 12 months that ended on December 2021, or 64 per day on average. It consisted of 2% commercial, 8% air taxi, 18% commercial, and 73% general aviation.
