Airport changing parking manager, customer loyalty program planned

CEDAR RAPIDS -- The short- and long-term parking lots at The Eastern Iowa Airport will be operated by new management after July 1.

The Cedar Rapids Airport Commission on Monday awarded a five-year contract to Republic Parking System of Chattanooga, Tenn. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but Airport Director Tim Bradshaw said Republic plans to offer a customer loyalty program.

"It's called 'Thanks Again' where you can earn airline frequent flyer miles or discounts on retail purchases," Bradshaw said. "You park six days and you get the seventh day free. That's something Republic brought that we really would like to offer to our customers."

The "Thanks Again" program is offered at the Des Moines International Airport, the Quad City International Airport in Moline, Ill., as well as 170 other  airports nationwide. Launched in 2004, Thanks Again has the largest local merchant base in North America where rewards can be redeemed.

Republic Parking Systems was awarded a five-year contract in August 2009 by the Cedar Rapids City Council to manage the downtown Cedar Rapids parking system. The company was retained to manage the parking ramps, surface parking lots and skywalks after the Cedar Rapids Downtown District took over the parking system on April 1, 2011.

The airport commission's decision to award a contract to Republic Parking System will end 18 years of management by Ampco of Cleveland, Ohio. Bradshaw said Republic Parking System has been encouraged to retain Ampc0 managers and staff, but it will decide after individual interviews with the employees.

Bradshaw said the transition from Ampco to Republic is expected to be seamless in terms of how it will affect airport customers. Ampco in 1994 was selected over a bid submitted Republic.