The Eastern Iowa Airport

What The Eastern Iowa Airport does

The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) is a government-owned public commercial service airport established in 1944 and operated by the Cedar Rapids Airport Commission under the City of Cedar Rapids. The airport serves as the primary commercial aviation gateway for Eastern Iowa, handling 1.6 million passengers in 2025 — its third consecutive record-breaking year — and 50% of Iowa's air cargo. It offers 17 nonstop destinations across five airlines (Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, United) with access to over 400 one-stop connections, and serves a catchment encompassing 38% of Iowa's population within a 90-minute drive plus the Tri-State border region.

The airport's core product is passenger and cargo air service delivered through airline and integrator partners operating on its 3,300-acre campus (1,300 acres available for development, including a 582-acre State Certified Land & Air Super Park). Underlying technology is physical-infrastructure heavy: a $121 million four-phase terminal modernization (2014 to 2025) expanded the facility from 9 to 13 gates and added a second Oculus, Service Animal Relief Area, sensory room, LED lighting, geothermal HVAC, and solar generation. Ancillary services — short-term ($18/day) and long-term ($11/day) parking, on-site rental car counters (seven brands), parking-and-go valet, ground transportation, and post-security visitor passes — round out the on-site product. The 2025 launch of the Aviation Workforce Development Campus extends CID's footprint into education, partnering with Coe College and Kirkwood Community College for pilot and aviation maintenance training.

The revenue model blends aeronautical fees (landing, lease, and use agreements with airlines and cargo carriers), non-aeronautical income (parking, concessions, rental car, ground transportation, advertising), and property leasing (UPS 40,000 sq ft facility, CIDSuperPark development land). Operating revenue is not publicly disclosed, but federal grants — $22.8M CARES Act (2020), $28.35M ARPA (2022), $8.8M FAA (2018), and $3.6M DOT (2024) — have supplemented internally generated capital for the modernization program. The Fly Local program (36+ regional employer and government partners) and a True Cost Calculator are the primary demand-generation mechanisms, with a 2026 Dubuque shuttle partnership extending geographic reach. The airport is governed by a volunteer Commission and operates with 58.9 FTE employees, generating an estimated $451 million in total regional economic impact (2017 study) and supporting 5,000 jobs.

Name

The Eastern Iowa Airport

Legal name

The Eastern Iowa Airport

Website

https://flycid.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) is a government-owned public commercial airport in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, serving 1.6 million annual passengers across 17 nonstop destinations with five airline partners and handling 50% of Iowa's air cargo via three major integrators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cedar Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Passenger Fees and Services: Revenue from passenger-related activities including parking fees (short-term $18/day, long-term $11/day), terminal concessions, and passenger fees
2. Cargo Operations: Revenue from cargo operations with FedEx, DHL, and UPS; handles 50% of Iowa's air cargo. Includes facility leasing (UPS 40,000 sq ft facility)
3. Concessions: Revenue from food and beverage, retail, rental car, and ground transportation concessions operating in the terminal and airport property
4. Property and Business Development: Revenue from 3,300 acres of airport property with 1,300 acres available for development including the 582-acre State Certified Land & Air Super Park

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) is a public commercial service airport providing passenger air travel to 17 nonstop destinations across five airlines (Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, United), air cargo handling services representing 50% of Iowa's air cargo, and ancillary services including parking (short-term $18/day, long-term $11/day), ground transportation, rental cars, and modern terminal amenities. The airport is owned by the City of Cedar Rapids and operated by the Cedar Rapids Airport Commission. It serves 38% of Iowa's population within a 90-minute drive and contributes $451 million in annual economic impact.

Product overview

The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) is a commercial service airport offering a unified portfolio of aviation and passenger services. The core offering is passenger air travel through 17 nonstop destinations on five airlines, complemented by air cargo services handling 50% of Iowa's freight. The airport provides ancillary services including parking, ground transportation, and rental cars. Notable programs include the Aviation Workforce Development Campus (educational partnership with Coe College and Kirkwood Community College), the Wings2Water environmental initiative, the CIDSuperPark economic development platform, and the CID Visitor Pass program for non-travelers. The terminal modernization project represents major infrastructure investment to expand capacity to 13 gates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fly Local: A program offered to regional employers, local governmental entities, and business leaders for their consideration in implementing air service travel policies and guidelines promoting the use of air service through CID.
• Wings2Water
• Aviation Workforce Development Campus (AWDC)

Products and services

• Passenger Air Travel Services Commercial passenger air travel services offering 17 nonstop destinations and connections to 400+ one-stop destinations across five airlines (Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, United) for business and leisure travelers in Eastern Iowa.
• Air Cargo Services Freight and cargo handling services served by three air cargo carriers (FedEx, DHL, UPS) at the airport's cargo facilities. The airport handles 50% of Iowa's air cargo and provides long-term facility leasing for cargo operators.
• Airport Parking Services Short-term ($18/day) and long-term ($11/day) passenger parking with Fly Through credit card payment option, plus valet parking services for travelers using The Eastern Iowa Airport.
• Ground Transportation Services Multiple ground transportation options for airport passengers including taxi services, airport shuttles, bus services (Jefferson Lines, Cedar Rapids city bus, Linn County LIFTS), rideshare (Lyft, Uber), and the new Dubuque to CID shuttle service.
• Rental Car Services On-site rental car services from seven companies: Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, Alamo, Enterprise, and National, located in the terminal.
• Dubuque to CID Shuttle Service New shuttle service operated by Anaman Concierge Service connecting Dubuque Regional Airport to The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) airline ticket counters, providing curb-to-curb service for $40-50 per leg.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.6 million passengers served in 2025 with 6% increase over previous record
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Dubuque Regional AirportminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 16 February 2026Dubuque Regional Airport granted permit to Anaman Concierge Service to provide curb-to-curb shuttle service from DBQ to CID. Supports DBQ's mission to serve as transportation hub while leveraging free parking. Service begins March 1, 2026.
• Anaman Concierge ServiceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 16 February 2026Iowa ground transportation company providing shuttle service from Dubuque to CID. Curb-to-curb service from Dubuque Regional Airport to CID airline ticket counters. Daily departures at 2am, 7am, 12pm, 5pm. $40-50 plus tax per leg.
• Coe CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2025Aviation Workforce Development Campus partnership at CID. Coe College operates aviation management & flight operations program to address estimated 17,000 pilot gap. ATD Flight Systems manages flight training with instruction beginning fall. Student-pilots can fly in first term at CID.
• Kirkwood Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2025Aviation Workforce Development Campus partnership at CID. Kirkwood operates aviation maintenance technology program addressing growing need for aircraft and avionics mechanics/technicians with 5% annual demand growth and 13,000+ openings expected each year through 2031.
• UPScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2019UPS has operated at CID since 1983. New agreement for UPS to lease a 40,000 sq ft cargo facility at CID with 10-year lease plus options to renew for additional 20 years. Project cost $10.2 million. Part of $27 million total cargo project including new West Cargo apron.
• Linn County Conservation BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal agreement for Wings2Water fundraising platform. 100% of funds raised go toward water quality projects designated by conservation board. Platform launched 2019 to reduce Iowa runoff, restore local water quality, and eliminate Gulf Dead Zone.
• Johnson County Conservation BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal agreement for Wings2Water fundraising platform. 100% of funds raised go toward water quality projects designated by conservation board.
• Fly Local Program Partners (36+ organizations)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional employers and government entities committed to adopting travel policies promoting CID use. Partners include ACT, Alliant Energy, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, City of Cedar Rapids, Mercy Medical Center, TrueNorth Companies, and others committed to flying local.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Des Moines International Airport (DSM): Iowa's largest airport by passenger volume and a direct competitor for Fly Local partners and statewide air service decisions. Comparable mid-size commercial service airport competing for the same Iowa traveler base.
• Quad City International Airport (MLI): Nearby Midwestern regional commercial airport in Moline, IL serving a comparable tri-state market with similar airline mix and passenger volumes. Direct competitor for Eastern Iowa/Iowa-Illinois border region travelers.
• Dane County Regional Airport (MSN): Madison, Wisconsin regional commercial airport with comparable passenger throughput, similar airline partnerships (including Allegiant and major carriers), and similar state-capital-corridor profile to CID.
• Dubuque Regional Airport (DBQ): Smaller Iowa regional airport that has formal shuttle partnership with CID; serves as feeder for Eastern Iowa travelers and competes for some Fly Local partners in the Iowa tri-state area.
• Waterloo Regional Airport (ALO): Another Iowa-based regional airport that competes with CID for Eastern Iowa catchment area passengers and Fly Local corporate commitments; similar commercial service profile.
• Rochester International Airport (RST): Mid-size Upper Midwest regional airport with similar passenger volumes, climate exposure, and airline mix including Sun Country/Allegiant leisure routes; comparable small-city commercial service airport.
• Greater Peoria Regional Airport (PIA): Mid-size Midwest regional commercial airport with comparable passenger throughput, similar multi-airline service including Allegiant leisure routes, and analogous industrial-cargo base.
• Lincoln Airport (LNK): Comparable mid-size Midwest regional airport with similar passenger scale, state-capital-adjacent profile, and similar Fly Local-type corporate travel initiatives.
• Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD): Larger Upper Midwest regional airport with similar multi-airline service, comparable industrial cargo activity, and analogous regional hub role in its state economy.

Regional players

• Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD): Major air cargo hub in the Upper Midwest (significant Amazon/UPS activity) that competes for cargo business within CID's distribution range; relevant comp for CID's cargo growth ambitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fly_CID
• Facebookfacebook.com/EasternIowaAirport
• Instagraminstagram.com/fly_cid

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Eastern Iowa Airport