The Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance (SSGA) is encouraging central Illinois businesses to “Fly SPI First”, following American Airlines’ upcoming adjusted schedule to provide key flight times between Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). The new schedule restores early morning and late evening options that improve connectivity to more than 150 destinations worldwide.
Starting October 7, flights will depart SPI as early as 6 a.m. CT and return as late as 11 p.m. CT. With the current earliest departure flight at 1 p.m. CT, this expanded schedule is a crucial change to support business travel, helping eliminate the need for unnecessary overnight stays, reducing costs, and enabling same-day coast-to-coast travel. The later inbound flight also improves reliability for early departures, minimizing delays and cancellations. In fact, an overnight stay is built into the AA flight crew’s schedule as part of this route.
“This improved schedule directly supports our ongoing mission to drive economic growth and connect Springfield to broader markets,” said Ryan McCrady, President & CEO of SSGA. “For example, access to early and late flights allows business travelers to fly to Washington, D.C. or San Francisco early in the morning, attend a full day of meetings, and return that same night. This change will strengthen Springfield’s position as a central hub for businesses in Illinois by providing better connectivity for both incoming investors and local companies with national operations.”
The new schedule is the result of years of advocacy by local stakeholders, including the Airport Authority, SSGA, and area business leaders. Federal elected officials representing the community also played a key role in championing improved air access from Springfield.
“We’re especially grateful to our representatives in Washington, D.C. for their leadership on this issue,” said McCrady. “This schedule is more than a convenience. It’s a critical tool for economic development, and we commend American Airlines for recognizing the needs of our community and making a bold investment in our city’s future. These new flight times give our region the connectivity we need to compete for jobs, investments, and talent on a national scale.”
While fares out of Springfield may appear higher than those from larger airports such as St. Louis Lambert International Airport, SSGA encourages business leaders to consider the true cost of travel when selecting flight service.
“A $300 ticket out of St. Louis may seem like a better deal than a $600 ticket out of Springfield,” McCrady added. “But when you factor in four hours of drive time, lost employee productivity, parking fees, and the safety risks of long travel days followed by long late-night drives, flying out of SPI is often the smarter, more cost-effective choice.”
SSGA is encouraging companies and individuals to take the “We Fly SPI First” pledge, a regional commitment to consider Springfield first when booking air travel. The goal is to demonstrate strong local demand and support continued airline investment in the region.