Enhanced commercial air service coming to Purdue University Airport with United Express flights

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — In a significant step forward in its commitment to support Purdue University’s operational needs through improved travel options, the Board of Trustees on Friday (April 4) approved a two-year transportation services agreement with SkyWest Airlines for commercial air service.

Under the agreement, SkyWest Airlines will maintain at least one daily nonstop United Express round-trip flight between West Lafayette’s Purdue University Airport (LAF) and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD). The flights will be onboard CRJ200 twin-engine jets, with capacity for 50 passengers per flight.

The new United Express flights will allow travelers access to United Airlines’ global network, extensive infrastructure and impressive customer service. Travelers will have the ability to book flights directly via the United Airlines website, which provides a seamless, user-friendly booking process.

“We’re excited to bring this new United Express route to Purdue University Airport,” said Cody Thomas, managing director of market development for SkyWest Airlines. “We know how important it is for travelers to access quality air service, and the new flights will allow them to more easily connect to the hundreds of destinations on United’s global network.”

The agreement is bolstered by the August opening of the Amelia Earhart Terminal at Purdue Airport. The approximately 9,400-square-foot building will provide increased capacity and advanced facilities to accommodate the expanded flight offerings and larger aircraft.

Travelers will be able to begin booking the new United Express flights late on Thursday (April 10), with the first flight scheduled for Aug. 5, the same day the Amelia Earhart Terminal is scheduled to open.

“We’re pleased to partner with SkyWest and excited for the enhancements they’ll provide for Purdue and the surrounding community,” said Jessica Robertson, Purdue associate vice president for auxiliary services. “The new agreement not only addresses immediate operational needs but also positions the university for future growth in flight options and destinations.”

Commercial flights at Purdue Airport further Purdue President Mung Chiang’s ABCD service to the community, the state and the country, in which the “A” stands for “airport” and aims to provide the university’s students, faculty, staff and families, as well as residents and businesses in Greater Lafayette, with easier, faster connections.

About SkyWest

SkyWest Airlines operates through partnerships with United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, carrying over 42 million passengers in 2024. Headquartered in St. George, Utah, our fleet of nearly 500 aircraft connects passengers to 255 destinations throughout North America.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 107,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 58,000 at our main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its comprehensive urban expansion, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.