The Peoria International Airport is moving a step closer to being able to provide international commercial flights. The airport is already a designated Port of Entry, but can handle only cargo, charter and corporate flights with up to 20 people.

An airport board committee this week approved renovating existing empty space to the west of the new terminal that would allow it to temporarily accept international commercial flights. The committee also signed-off on a proposal to design a permanent international arrival facility to the east of the terminal. Gene Olson is the Director of the airport:

"We possibly have the need for getting (U.S.) Customs facilities in here as soon as possible, and so we're looking at what can we do to provide these facilities in a very quick time frame," says Olson.

"Then at the same time we're doing that, we would be looking at developing a more permanent facility that could serve the marketplace more in character with the rest of this building."

Olson says he’s been approached by at least one airline interested in bringing international flights to Peoria. The temporary facility will be in the former Postal and Coding Center. The renovation could begin as soon as next month if approved and will cost about one-million dollars. It will take up to six months to complete. The full airport board will vote on the temporary and permanent international facilities next week.