Two years ago Mayor Richard Daley closed Chicago’s downtown airport, Meigs Field. Crain’s Chicago Business editorial said it best, “The decision to close Meigs was a bad one. Though tiny, it played a vital role in the city’s commercial infrastructure, mainly serving as a close-in landing spot for business aircraft shuttling executives to and from Chicago’s central business district.”
Meigs handled 30,000 to 40,000 flights/year and its closing hasn’t been picked up in added flights to other Chicago airports. In other words, business has gone elsewhere because of the hassle of flying into Midway, O’Hare, etc.
I’ve written extensively about the new jets like the Eclipse that will revolutionize air travel in our country. Meigs was ideal for these new jets. Chicago will rue the day that they bulldozed this wonderful downtown asset.
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I suspect many in Chicago already rue the day El Jefe destroyed Meigs (in the middle of the night, right after his last election). Except for his wife, of course.
I wonder what your opinion of the new airport in Palatine is. I know many opposed it vigorously, but I've heard construction has started. It seems like an economic benefit to the region, although it may change the local culture.
Chicago will look back with regret upon the night that the unanounced bulldozers tore out the runway.
I'm not familiar with the new airport in Palatine but would view any new, small airports very favorably. The new micro jets like the Eclipse, Adams, etc. that are being test flown are going to revolutionize how we travel. They will open up the 10,000+ airports in our country to more travel. We will use them more with new jet taxi networks rather than having 98% of our air travel occur in the present 150 airports in this country.
jack
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