DECATUR - With flights to Chicago's Midway Airport taking off with an average of two passengers each, Decatur Airport officials are exploring a return to service between Decatur and O'Hare International Airport.

"Many people have talked to me about wanting to go to O'Hare," said Joe Attwood, Decatur Airport director. "That is their way of telling me they don't want to go to Midway."

Ever since government-subsidized service to Midway began Feb. 1, passengers have been showing their indifference to flights to the smaller airport on the city's South Side.

With two round trips to Chicago daily, just 133 passengers rode the 60 flights to Midway in June.

Decatur Airport has retained Transportation Planning Inc., a Texas-based aviation consultant, to help find a way back to O'Hare. Attwood said the contract with the company is for $6,000.

"We would like them to look at the opportunities for us to persuade American Airlines or some other airline to provide regional jet service to O'Hare," Attwood said.

The last service between Decatur and O'Hare was discontinued in January 2000, when the Chicago airport barred all commercial propeller passenger flights.

Mesa Airlines, the carrier providing service to Midway since Feb. 1, uses turboprop planes. The service is subsidized through a $1.65 million state grant, which includes service from Midway to Quincy and Marion.

Attwood said there is no indication that service from Decatur to St. Louis will be restored soon. The service, provided by RegionsAir, was canceled March 8.

Great Lakes Aviation Ltd., the only carrier that submitted a proposal to resume the St. Louis service, does not have the airplanes to do the job, Attwood said.

Attwood, who was named airport director June 1, had served as interim director since January.

At the Decatur Park District Board of Commissioners meeting Wednesday, Attwood proposed that hangar rental fees should be raised to catch up with fair prices in today's market.

"Our agreements are 25 years old," Attwood said. "We've not increased rates since 1982."

Attwood told the commissioners that hangar rental fees at other Central Illinois airports are two or three times as high as Decatur's.

"Renters will not be thrilled, but they know (fees) are low and have not been increased," Attwood said.

The three commissioners in attendance decided to table a decision to raise the rates, to allow a review of the numbers. Attwood recommended raising the rent on each of the 110 hangars $20 per month. Each following year, the hangar rents would once again be increased $20, until the rents matched their market value.

Commissioner Cindy Deadrick agreed that the rents should be raised.

"We need to be fiscally responsible," Deadrick said. "We need to keep it on track and not fall behind."

Huey Freeman can be reached at hfreeman@herald-review.com or 421-6985.