United Airlines is returning to Willard Airport with the promise of expanded service.
Starting on April 30, the airline will operate four daily, nonstop flights to and from O’ Hare International Airport in Chicago, according to a news release from Willard.
The new service also offers travelers from Champaign-Urbana connections to 207 cities.
“This route will provide our customers with greater access between east central Illinois and Chicago – making it convenient for travelers to visit all of the places they want to travel with United’s leading global route network,” Mark Weithofer, Managing Director of Domestic Network Planning for United, said in a statement.
United was the first airline to offer scheduled flights at Willard. It most recently served the University of Illinois-owned airport from 2017 to 2019.
Willard currently has flights to Chicago and Dallas-Fort Worth through American Airlines.
“United’s return to the market will increase our daily seats by more than 50%, ensuring more people can fly Champaign-Urbana,” said airport executive director Tim Bannon in a statement.