Rideshare drivers threaten to end business at Eastern Iowa Airport over poor lot conditions

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Planning how you’re getting to the airport is always an important step of travel.

And for many travelers, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are the best way to do it.

But David Kordi, a rideshare driver who frequently works at the airport, says the airport isn’t treating them as such.

“These conditions are kind of deplorable down here. We don’t have any kind of facilities. We have older rideshare drivers here, you know, some of them are retired veterans who want to make some extra money and they have to drive a mile and a half away to go relieve themselves. That’s absolutely unacceptable.” he said.

He says the problem is the lot that rideshare drivers wait in to pick up airport passengers.

The airport owns this lot, but it’s in rough shape.

From potholes to debris to small pieces of metal, Kordi says some drivers have paid hundreds of dollars to fix the damage the lot’s caused to their cars.

But in an interview with TV9, an airport official about the issues, she says the lot is fine as is.

“I didn’t see those over there when I was over there. So, that is the first I heard of any of that and he didn’t mention repairs of any nature. There are no immediate plans to change that lot at this time.” said Pam Hinman, the Eastern Iowa Airport’s Director of Communications and Marketing.

But Kordi, a representative for a coalition of dozens of rideshare drivers, says if nothing changes, they’ll just stop doing business at the airport… which could have a serious ripple effect on passengers.

“Do you want to wait after a flight for two and a half hours to get a ride? Or pay $150 dollars to go 25 miles to Iowa City? I mean, honestly, if you think you don’t have to… you’re wrong.” he said.

Hinman says because the airport’s contracts are with Uber and Lyft and not individual drivers, drivers should contact their employer with their concerns. But whether this will be enough to convince drivers to stay at the airport remains to be seen.

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