Eastern Iowa Airport accepts federal, state grants

The Cedar Rapids Airport Commission on Monday voted to accept federal and state grants that will pay part of the costs of marketing new flights as well as expanded passenger terminal construction.

The Iowa Department of Transportation has approved a $175,000 grant under its Air Service Development Program to pay 50 percent of the costs of marketing American Airlines' direct flights from Cedar Rapids to Charlotte, N.C., beginning Nov. 4. While the marketing will span 24 months, the IDOT grant is approved for 18 months.

Airport Director Marty Lenss told the commission that the airport will pay the other portion of the marketing costs. Similar grants have been provided to market new flights by Allegiant Air and other airlines serving The Eastern Iowa Airport.

Pam Hinman, airport marketing and communications director, said advertising has begun promoting the flights, Hinman said it is too early to determine customer demand for the flights.

American Airline on July 8 announced plans to offer two daily, nonstop flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, N.C. The airline's second-largest hub after Dallas-Fort Worth offers 654 daily flights to 145 destinations in 23 countries, including Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe.

American Airlines will operate the service with 65-seat dual class CRJ 700 regional jets. Each flight offers nine first-class seats.

The commission on Monday also approved an $889,885 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to help pay for construction of a terminal ramp expansion and rehabilitation of a taxi lane for the airport's northwest T-hangar.

The terminal ramp expansion is needed for airliners to maneuver after the B concourse is expanded as part of a $55 million passenger terminal remodeling project.

The cost of the project increased from an estimated $605,588 primarily due to higher administrative costs. The commission on June 27 awarded a contract to Rathje Construction of Marion for the projects.