Regional airports land business travelers with convenient service, less hassle

It’s not unusual for Tracy Waggoner, business development manager at Modineer, to travel for business. A self-described “road warrior,” Waggoner, who lives in South Bend, takes dozens of flights a year to meet with company clients and representatives across the United States.

Rather than battle the traffic and sometimes hazardous road conditions en route to Chicago’s O’Hare or Midway airports or drive to Grand Rapids, Michigan, Waggoner finds it more convenient to catch a flight from South Bend International Airport. Just a few miles from his work and home, the airport is an ideal choice for Waggoner’s commercial transportation needs.

“South Bend is inexpensive and comparable to the total costs of what traveling through Chicago would be,” Waggoner said.

Waggoner is one of the millions of people in the United States who travel for business each year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation, more than 405 million long-distance business trips are taken annually. Long-distance trips are defined as more than 250 miles from the point of origin. Most such trips are taken by car; however 16% of all long-distance travel is done via airplane. The majority of flights are taken for destinations greater than 500 miles.

Dan Vicari, executive director of Gary/Chicago International Airport, said the airport’s location makes it ideal for business aircraft, cargo operations and even commercial flights. GCIA is 25 miles from downtown Chicago, which provides convenience by proximity, but without the typical congestion of a larger airport. The expressways are a short drive away, and South Shore Line, a commuter rail, has a stop at the airport, Vicari said.

The airport does not offer passenger service, but Vicari expects that to change in the coming year. A new passenger terminal was expected to be completed in February.

“There are nearly 900,000 people in the Region who can support this service,” Vicari said.

Mike Daigle, chief executive officer and executive director of South Bend International, said airports across the area are not just providing convenience, they are cornerstones of their local economies.

Airports are an economic engine that “makes sure your community stays vibrant,” Daigle said.

Cost-effective travel

Modineer is a metal fabrication company just across the Michigan border in the town of Niles. It operates facilities across the United States and in Mexico. Because of its close proximity, the South Bend airport has become the choice for Waggoner and his colleagues.

Waggoner flies 25 to 30 times a year. Being able to fly out of South Bend is far more convenient than Chicago, which requires a minimum of two hours in the car one way — on a good day.

Waggoner’s colleagues studied travel costs out of South Bend compared to the costs to fly out of larger airports. They examined ticket prices, gasoline costs, tolls, parking, time on the road and other factors. The data overwhelmingly favored using the South Bend airport, Waggoner said.

“For me, it’s almost 100 percent convenience,” Waggoner said. “Our headquarters are right across the border and my house is about 20 minutes away. It’s great when you land, and you know you’re only about 20 minutes from being home. There’s nothing worse than wheels down in Chicago and realizing you have to drive home a couple of hours to get home.”

Breeze Airways recently started offering nonstop service from South Bend to Washington, D.C.; Orlando; and Fort Myers, Florida.

Lukas Johnson, Breeze Airways’ chief commercial officer, said the domestic airline “is designed specifically for communities like South Bend, giving travelers in the area convenient, affordable options without having to make a roughly two-hour drive to O’Hare or Midway.”

A roundtrip flight to Fort Myers, Florida, from South Bend was listed at about $100 on the Breeze website in early January, with limited travel dates. Johnson said Breeze offers such amenities as extra legroom and Wi-Fi.

“We’re pleased with the community’s response to our nonstop service to Washington-Dulles and Orlando and look forward to bringing nonstop service to Fort Myers in February.”

General aviation

Passenger airlines such as those flying out of South Bend are convenient for business traveler needs, but there are other options. General aviation airports provide a level of convenience that commercial airlines don’t always offer.

General aviation is a term that defines noncommercial flying, including recreational and private transport.

“Our relative physical setting from the Chicago Loop drives a lot of the Chicago business traffic. We’re a great option for them,” Vicari said.

Vicari said companies like to make GCIA their home base for aircraft due in part to onsite customs agents. In 2018, the airport opened a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility.

GCIA accepts flights from corporate and private planes, as well as cargo aircraft. The United Parcel Service began air cargo operations at the airport in November 2020. It also kicked off $24 million in infrastructure upgrades in October 2024 and received a $1.7 million federal grant to design, engineer and construct a new air traffic control tower, enabling the airport’s future expansion.

In December, GCIA celebrated the arrival of its 600th international flight.

Work also began on a $12 million hangar last year, which will house Wingtip Aviation. The company signed a 20-year lease with the airport.

“Wingtip Aviation is thrilled to be taking off on our next adventure with GCIA, as we look forward to expanding operations here in a few short months,” said Jeromy Montesano, owner of Wingtip Aviation, in a statement last summer. The company is a charter service based in Valparaiso.

The 47,000-square-foot hangar is expected to open in May.

GCIA isn’t the only general aviation location in Northern Indiana that provides flight options for corporate planes, or even small business professionals who fly their own aircraft.

At Griffith-Merrillville Airport, which was acquired by GCIA earlier this year, there is a significant amount of traffic from chartered flights and from individuals who own their own planes, including area business executives, said Craig Anderson, vice president of Griffith-Merrillville Airport.

A number of corporate flights use the airport for projects in Schererville and the surrounding area.

“We provide a significant service for local businesses in the area,” Anderson said.

There are an estimated 5,000 general aviation airports. At the same time, there are only 503 commercial airports in the United States.

“This is a convenient choice for some people,” Anderson said. “A lot of the people, if you’re trying to fly airlines for some kinds of businesses, it can be tough to go to areas where they are not close to airline supported networks.”

Flying can be a long ordeal in these situations.

“It will require you to fly into one airport, then spend time riding in a car in order to get to your destination,” he said. “When it’s time to leave, you have to do it all over again.”

Time is precious, particularly for business travelers who may have to visit multiple destinations before their work is complete. General aviation airports are a critical time management option for many business travelers who may find it more convenient than passenger aircraft.

Porter County Regional Airport was established in the mid-1960s to provide corporate aviation for the steel industry, said Airport Director Kyle Kuebler. The airport continues to serve business travelers who opt for general aviation transportation. As businesses and industries evolve and scale over time, many are looking at general aviation as an essential tool. Kuebler said airports like Porter County Regional are a critical lynchpin for companies and the overall economy.

“When you think about the efficiency of business people, they want to do their work (and then) be home. The airplane becomes a time machine. You can hit three and four cities in a day and be back home in the evening,” Kuebler said. “The efficiency of travel is based on getting where you want to go. Having a system of airports is how we accomplish that.”

Convenient service

Some of the key advantages for Waggoner and other passengers choosing South Bend International Airport include travel times, proximity to work and home, shorter security lines, as well as the short walk to the gates.

Parking is also another big perk. The spot farthest from the main door only takes a couple of minutes to walk, Daigle said.

“Customers tell us they want to fly in and out of here for the ease of convenience,” he said.

In 2024, an estimated 900,000 passengers used South Bend International Airport, a 7% increase year to date, Daigle said. That number would break a 2019 record of 832,445 people who flew to and from the airport.

Five airlines fly in and out of South Bend International, with Breeze Airways the latest. That airline began service to Washington, D.C., and Orlando in November, in addition to the new one to Fort Myers, Daigle said.

“You can get to almost anywhere you want to go with just one connection,” Daigle said.

Jasper County Airport also serves as a critical link for the surrounding business community. Multiple corporate planes use the airport to support industries in the area, said Emily Hackler, airport manager at Jasper County Airport. Planes operated by parent companies are able to fly into the Jasper County airport and conduct meetings or site visits with their local affiliates.

It’s not just brick-and-mortar companies that use the airport. Hackler said some of the large agricultural sites in the surrounding area bring contract workers through the county airport.

“It’s a real benefit for the local businesses,” she said.

Jasper County handles between 200 and 300 corporate flights per year on average. Hackler said they are considering a potential expansion at the airport to accommodate larger airplanes and even jets. A five-year plan is in the works to build a longer runway that will be able to handle the distance jets need to safely take off and land. When that happens, she said the airport will offer an even greater benefit for the business community and local economy.

“Sometimes you can do things in one day, where it may take two or three days by airline,” Griffith-Merrillville Airport’s Anderson said. “This is how general aviation can assist a company and help it keep its business going.”

With so many general aviation airports across the country, Anderson said people are able to use their non-commercial planes and fly to an airport that’s likely within a few miles of their ultimate destination. Some of those airports provide courtesy cars, which makes reaching a location even more convenient.

“People can complete their business, then come right back to the airport, hop on their plane and head to the next location,” Anderson said. “There’s a lot of time spent moving between points, and the time saved and being able a lot of times to be back home that same night and be with your families makes it worthwhile.” •

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