Springfield's Abraham Lincoln
Capital Airport has a new amenity to offer travelers thanks to a partnership
with ION, an Illinois-based company that provides concessions to regional
airports.
“Our vision is to elevate the
airport's concession and service offerings, ensuring an electrifying experience
for travelers,” said Phil Rowell, CEO of ION.
Rowell said he “traveled
through many airports” during the years he spent working as a consultant, which
gave him the idea to launch a company focused on providing services to regional
airports.
“The O’Hare and St. Louis-type
airports, they’ll take care of themselves, but since regional airports have
less passenger traffic, a lot of amenities that have a franchise tag have a harder
time operating… they often have a floor for the number of passengers per year,”
Rowell said.
In August, ION opened its
first location in the University of Illinois Willard Airport in Savoy. On Nov.
25, its second location opened at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport.
“We wanted to
make sure we captured the holiday travel,” Rowell said, “so we started with a post-security
grab-and-go convenience area.”
Rowell said
the company is working with local suppliers to offer “a taste of Springfield
here in the airport,” such as Del’s Popcorn and beef sticks from Turasky’s. “People
can enjoy it themselves or take it on their travels as gifts,” he said.
In addition,
there are plans to open a café in the pre-security area.
“Subway has
been closed for a few years, so we’re going to demolish that space and come
back with a similar concept,” Rowell said. “We work with members of the
community that already have commercial kitchen operations, and we’ll be
announcing a partnership with a local supplier soon.”
Rowell said
the café is slated to open in the spring of 2025.
Mark Hanna, executive
director of the Springfield Airport Authority, said, “This partnership presents
a fantastic opportunity for Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport to elevate its
offerings. ION’s commitment to innovation, quality and service aligns perfectly
with our goal of providing an exceptional experience for travelers.”
