Commercial flights from Purdue airport to Chicago to begin this week

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Starting this week, Hoosiers will be able to board commercial flights that run from Purdue University’s airport in West Lafayette to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

PU officials broke ground Tuesday on their new Amelia Earhart Terminal and celebrated the return of commercial flights to Purdue University Airport and Greater Lafayette with a ceremonial first flight. Scheduled passenger flights are now set to begin on Wednesday.

Purdue and Surf Air Mobility Inc. agreed last December to begin scheduled commuter air service between the campus airport (LAF) and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD). The partnership marks the first time since 2004 that commercial flights are available at LAF.

Southern Airways Express, a subsidiary of Surf Air Mobility, will run flight operations. The university previously said it would provide funds to support the establishment and ongoing operations of the air service.

Eventually, flights are planned to be taking off from Amelia Earhart Terminal, a new, $11.8 million, 9,400-square-foot terminal building. Construction of the terminal, which began earlier this month, is expected to be completed in August 2025.

Planned to be located west of the existing airport terminal, Purdue officials said the Earhart Terminal will include TSA/FAA-compliant ticketing, passenger screening, baggage claim and a waiting area.

Calling itself the “local connection to the world,” LAF said round-trip flights from West Lafayette to Chicago O’Hare International Airport can provide access to over 240 connecting destinations.

Click here for more information on LAF or to schedule a flight.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 59.