United Airlines will once again fly a Chicago, O’Hare (ORD) – Champaign, Willard (CMI) route 4 times daily, year round. This gives travelers more opportunities to simply go to Willard Airport, go through security, fly to Chicago, and then be connected to cities world-wide. United has the largest global network of any U.S. airline.
Of course, it’s possible to fly to O’Hare and then take another United flight. But one could also fly to O’Hare and book another airline from O’Hare. This increases the flexibility for travelers.
The exact details are still a little unclear. Are these 2 departures and 2 arrivals? But with this addition, it certain increases the options for getting to Chicago, O’Hare specifically, and introduces and element of competition at Willard. American Airlines has been operating American Eagle flights from Willard to O’Hare for a number of years.
So the question becomes, what is the cost of the flight. I checked the Willard Flight booking website, but couldn’t see flights for a timeframe in June.
I recently drove to O’Hare for a trip to Florida. The drive obviously took about 2.5 hours. I parked at the Cumberland Blue Line Station and used SpotHero for $10/day. I then took the Blue Line L.
If I didn’t have a car, and if I was pressed for time, or someone else, say my job or a grant were paying for the trip, I would take the flight instead of the drive. Going through security at a smaller airport and not driving is so much more convenient.