Contour Airlines proposal pilot car rental at Quincy Regional

QUINCY — Quincy Regional Airport officials are exploring a new rental car program that could make it easier for passengers to pick up wheels at the terminal.

A Contour Airlines representative told the Aeronautics Committee on Wednesday that the carrier would like to launch a pilot program offering rental cars from its airport counter. Passengers would be required to pick up and return the vehicles at the airport.

Contour said it would start with a fleet of about 10 late-model, mid-sized cars, such as the 2026 Buick Envista. The airline’s own counter agent would handle leases, and the fleet could grow if demand increases. No exact rental prices were given.

The airline is partnering with Ace Major Holdings, which will provide an employee to maintain the fleet. Contour has asked for a letter authorizing the launch of the program and assurances that it will not incur any additional fees or taxes.

A formal contract to rent cars at the airport would have to go before the Quincy City Council for approval, according to Airport Director Bill Lantz.

“Right now, we’re just discussing it to see what it would look like,” Lantz said. “I think it’s great to have an actual rental car company at the airport. We’ve had several cases where passengers thought they had a rental car with a local agency, and they were out of cars. It’s a way for people coming on and off the aircraft to have a guaranteed rental car.”

Passenger numbers climb at Quincy Regional after Nashville route added by Contour Airlines

Contour believes the rental program will further entice flyers to choose Quincy for its nonstop service to Chicago and Nashville.

Quincy’s airport has seen a robust uptick in passengers since the second route to Nashville began. According to Lantz, more than 800 travelers flew out of Quincy in June, and more than 900 in July. Before the Nashville route began, enplanements were around 400 a month.

“Some people are flying from Chicago, through Quincy, to Nashville, or vice versa,” Lantz said. “Sometimes Nashville boards people that are going to Chicago. They’ll run through Quincy. It’s a win-win for us. I’m very excited about it.”

Lantz said Quincy travelers have been receiving preference when it comes to the Nashville flights. The Contour team monitors bookings and will rebook Chicago passengers to avoid bumping Quincy passengers from full flights.

Enplanements could help protect EAS funding

Strong passenger numbers will be crucial after the conclusion of the one-year Essential Air Service agreement with Contour, which is administered through the U.S. Department of Transportation. Congress is considering President Donald Trump’s proposed cuts to EAS, or Essential Air Service.

“So, through Contour’s work, this is starting to come into a positive situation,” Lantz said. “The better our enplanements look, the harder it is to make a cut. The better we look, the more difficult it is to make the cut. So I encourage people to fly out of Quincy airport and fly to Chicago, Nashville, or other destinations abroad.”

Jake Leonard, Executive Editor-In-Chief

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.

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