Airports

IPMI & Member News

Ocra And TrackMyShuttle Partner
Airports Data IPMI & Member News Technology Transit Vendors/Products

Ocra and TrackMyShuttle Partner to Eliminate “Pre-Airport Transit Anxiety” for Travelers and Unlock Ancillary Revenue for Hotels

Chicago, IL & Leesburg, VA – Ocra, the first AI-powered Revenue Management System (RMS) and Global Distribution System (GDS) for hotel parking assets, and TrackMyShuttle, a leading real-time fleet visibility and operations platform for hotels, airports, and parking operators, announced a strategic partnership to transform the airport hotel parking experience. By combining Ocra’s purpose-built parking revenue management platform with TrackMyShuttle’s transparency-focused transit technology, the two companies provide a "white-glove" solution to the multi-billion dollar airport parking and ground transportation sector.

Barrier at Entrance and Exit of a car Parking garage. Fully automated barrier from car park. Underground parking, garage. Interior of parking
Airports Data Digital Parking Tech IPMI Blog Parking Facilities Technology

Revolutionizing the First Mile: The Power of Automated Airport Parking

For many travelers, the journey doesn’t begin at the boarding gate; it starts in the parking garage. Transitioning to a fully automated Parking Access and Revenue Control System (PARCS) is no longer just a luxury for airports—it is a strategic necessity that balances operational excellence with passenger satisfaction.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Enhances Parking Experience with Portier Parking Guidance Solutions
Airports Data IPMI & Member News Technology Vendors/Products

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Enhances Parking Experience with Portier Parking Guidance Solutions

Portier, a global provider of intelligent parking guidance and smart mobility systems, is proud to announce the deployment of its Portier VISION and Portier HOST platforms at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the United States. The new systems are designed to improve traffic flow, enhance traveler convenience, and provide airport management with powerful operational insights.

Premium Parking logo
Airports Digital Parking Tech IPMI & Member News Technology Vendors/Products

Killeen Regional Airport Modernizes Traveler Experience with Launch of Premium Parking’s Free-Flow Technology

Killeen, TX — Travelers at Killeen Regional Airport (GRK) will soon experience a faster, simpler way to park. Beginning Feb. 1, the airport will remove parking gates and transition to a free-flow parking system powered by Premium Parking’s digital platform, GLIDEPARCS®.

Parking space reserved for Reserved
Airports IPMI Blog Parking Facilities Parking Lots

The Smart Way to Start Your Trip: Why Airport Parking Reservations are Essential

The last thing you want on travel day is unnecessary stress. Yet, for many, the journey begins with a frustrating, time-consuming search for an available parking space at the airport. By reserving your parking in advance, you eliminate this stress entirely and gain a significant advantage before you even check your bag. The primary benefit is guaranteed space. Whether it's the holiday rush or peak summer travel, knowing you have a spot waiting for you—often in a preferred location like a covered garage—provides instant peace of mind. No more frantic driving up and down aisles, wasting precious minutes you could be spending relaxing or getting through security. Furthermore, booking ahead is almost always the cheapest option. Airport parking services frequently offer dynamic pricing and special online discounts that are unavailable to drive-up customers. This can lead to substantial cost savings, freeing up more money for your trip itself. A reservation streamlines your departure, saves you money, and ensures you start your journey feeling calm and organized. Don't leave your parking to chance; book online and enjoy a smoother travel experience from the moment you leave your home. Vincent Thomas, MSM, PTMP, is the Vice President, Aviation North, for Reimagined Parking, Inc. Vincent can be reached at vincent.thomas@reimaginedparking.com.

Senior businessman talking on the phone in airport parking lot with happy face while talking on the phone he looked at his wristwatch so that he can get on the plane in time to travel to talk business abroad.
Airports IPMI Blog Parking Facilities Parking Lots Technology

Goodbye Gridlock: The Rise of Automated Airport Parking

Airport parking used to be a frantic race against the clock—circling crowded garages, forgetting where you parked, and facing long queues at the exit. Now, automated parking technology is finally bringing the convenience of the digital age to the tarmac, transforming the travel experience from the moment you arrive. Modern airports are embracing smart systems that replace traditional chaos with seamless efficiency. These solutions range from sophisticated parking guidance systems, which use sensors and LED lights to direct drivers instantly to open parking spaces, to fully robotic parking garages. In the latter, you simply drop your car in a terminal, and mechanical shuttles whisk it away and stack it compactly. The benefits are numerous. For travelers, it means dramatically reduced parking times, less stress, and the ability to pre-book and pay entirely via mobile app. For airports, automation maximizes space utilization, reduces congestion and vehicle emissions from idling cars, and enhances security through License Plate Recognition (LPR) and constant monitoring. Automated parking isn't just a luxury—it’s a necessary step toward building the streamlined, sustainable airport of the future. Vincent Thomas, MSM, PTMP, is the Vice President, Aviation North for Reimagined Parking, Inc. Vincent can be reached at vincent.thomas@reimaginedparking.com.

Airport Operators Focus Group Graphic
Airports Events Training/Education

Airport Operators Focus Group Meeting

Open to all airport operations professionals as well as off-site airport parking operators, consultants, and suppliers serving the airport segment.

Automotus logo
Airports Curb Management IPMI & Member News Municipal/Cities Technology Vendors/Products

Curb Management Tech Supplier Automotus Raises $9M

Automotus, a Los Angeles-based software company that sells curb management, traffic and associated payment technology, has raised $9 million in a new funding round. According to Jordan Justus, the company’s CEO and co-founder, the round includes $7.5 million in equity and $1.5 million in credit from a single investor. Total equity funding to date for the company, which traces its roots to 2017 while Justus and co-founder and CTO Harris Lummis were students at Loyola Marymount University, stands at $26 million, Justus said. This funding round included Santa Barbara Venture Partners, Weatherford Capital, BarronKent Ventures, Techstars Ventures, kineo, and other investors, according to a statement. Automotus offers a platform powered by computer vision that cities and airports can use to monitor and control traffic at curbs, including via data analytics and automated payments. The rise of ride hailing along with consumer dependence on retail deliveries help make curbside spaces increasingly busy. An example of the technology in use comes from Lincoln, Neb., where cameras provided by Automotus have helped officials craft parking policies for downtown. Automotus says it has deployed its tech in “dozens of markets across the country.” The fresh capital will go toward deeper product offerings, market expansion and customer support. “Cities and airports are under immense pressure to modernize the curb as commercial traffic surges and they’re forced to grapple with AVs,” Justus said. “This investment allows us to scale our impact and continue delivering technology that makes streets safer, more efficient and more sustainable.”

Airport Operators Focus Group Graphic
Airports Events Training/Education

Airport Operators Focus Group Meeting

Register for IPMI's members-only focus group on airports. Open to all airport operations professionals as well as off-site airport parking operators, consultants, and suppliers serving the airport segment. 

Metropolis Announces Partnership with Joby Aviation logos
Airports IPMI & Member News Mobility Technology Transit Vendors/Products

Joby, Metropolis Announce Partnership to Develop 25 Vertiport Sites Across the U.S.

Santa Cruz, CA & Los Angeles, CA – Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY), a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, announced a partnership with Metropolis Technologies, Inc., a leader in applied AI for the real world, to develop 25 vertiports across the United States utilizing Metropolis’ extensive network of parking locations. The partnership will incorporate Metropolis’ AI-based recognition technology, as well the company’s extensive footprint across aviation and baggage services. Following its $1.5 billion acquisition of SP+, and $1.6 billion Series D financing, Metropolis is the largest parking network and operator in North America, operating more than 4,200 parking locations, as well as aviation services in over 350 locations. The planned vertiports will be strategically selected across Metropolis’ portfolio in early electric air taxi markets and use Metropolis’ computer vision technology; the companies will be evaluating both new and existing facilities for the integration of vertiports. “For air taxis to deliver on their promise of seamless urban travel, they must connect directly with the existing ground transportation ecosystem,” said JoeBen Bevirt, CEO and founder of Joby. “By leveraging existing parking infrastructure to create mobility hubs, we can deliver on our vision of seamless connectivity for our customers and also maximize the value of those sites without needing to build infrastructure from scratch.” The companies plan to leverage Metropolis’ world-class technology, including biometrics, broader computer vision and services like baggage handling, to accelerate Joby’s efforts to integrate its air taxi service directly into existing ground transportation hubs and deploy compact, high-throughput vertiport designs that satisfy safety and regulatory standards. Under its Bags Inc. subsidiary, Metropolis will initially bring its Bags VIP service to Joby’s Blade Urban Air Mobility, which provides flights between Manhattan and JFK or Newark airports in five minutes, bypassing up to two hours of traffic and eliminating common airport pain points. By providing baggage handling to Blade passengers in the New York City area, this partnership will remove friction and allow more people to take advantage of Blade’s service without needing to worry about luggage requirements. Metropolis already operates parking, advanced luggage logistics, remote check-in and in-terminal guest services that streamline the traveler experience across more than 350 airports in North America. Metropolis CEO, Alex Israel, commented on the partnership, “The real world is the next frontier for AI, and our partnership with Joby marks a critical first step in expanding the Metropolis platform into true mobility hubs to deliver remarkable value for Members and partners alike. This transformational partnership is the very definition of Applied AI in the physical world. We are taking the data and recognition capabilities we've built in our network and extending it to air travel, creating the seamless, personalized, and magical experience that is the foundation of the Recognition Economy.” About Joby Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY) is a California-based transportation company developing an all-electric, vertical take-off and landing air taxi. Joby intends to both operate its fast, quiet, and convenient air taxi service in cities around the world and sell its aircraft to other operators and partners. To learn more, visit www.jobyaviation.com. About Metropolis Metropolis is an artificial intelligence company for the real world. Its Computer Vision platform eliminates friction from daily life, powers checkout-free payments and unlocks seamless, predictive and personalized experiences everywhere consumers transact. Metropolis is pioneering the Recognition Economy, transforming physical spaces into responsive environments with an Intelligence Layer that understands presence, anticipates needs and personalizes moments. Leveraging AI, Metropolis’ platform understands, adapts and responds to Members in real time. Adding more than 1 million Members each month, it is one of the fastest-growing technology companies in the United States and envisions a future where transacting in the real world is even easier than online. Following its take-private acquisition of SP+, Metropolis is now the largest parking network in the United States, with 4,200+ locations and operations in 40 countries worldwide. Its proprietary AI technology touches 50 million customers and processes over $5 billion in payments annually. To learn more, please visit www.metropolis.io. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding our business plan, objectives, goals and market opportunity; plans for, and potential benefits of, our strategic partnerships, including our partnership with Metropolis, our plan to develop 25 vertiports across the US and the planned partnership between our Blade Urban Air Mobility subsidiary and Bags VIP; and our current expectations relating to our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects, capital needs and growth of our operations. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, “plan”, “intend”, “believe”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “can have”, “likely” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. All forward looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including: our ability to launch our air taxi service and the growth of the urban air mobility market generally; our ability to produce aircraft that meet our performance expectations in the volumes and on the timelines that we project; the competitive environment in which we operate; our future capital needs; our ability to adequately protect and enforce our intellectual property rights; our ability to effectively respond to evolving regulations and standards relating to our aircraft; our reliance on third-party suppliers and service partners; uncertainties related to our estimates of the size of the market for our service and future revenue opportunities; and other important factors discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 27, 2025, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 8, 2025 and August 7, 2025, and in future filings and other reports we file with or furnish to the SEC. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates and beliefs as of the date of this release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change. Contacts: Metropolis Media Contact Lizzy Levitan Metropolis@hunt-gather.com Joby Media Contact Charles Stewart press@jobyaviation.com Joby Investor Contact investors@jobyaviation.com

PayByPhone and Designa sign strategic global partnership agreement
Airports Digital Parking Tech IPMI & Member News Parking Facilities Technology Vendors/Products

PayByPhone and Designa Sign Strategic Global Partnership Agreement for Frictionless Off-Street Gated Garage Parking

Vancouver, Canada – PayByPhone, a global leader in mobile parking payments, has signed a strategic global partnership agreement with Designa, a global leader in fully automated parking systems for more than 70 years. The agreement aims to provide PayByPhone users a frictionless entry and exit at off-street gated garages – including airports, hotels, shopping centers and hospitals – thanks to integration with Designa‘s intelligent parking management solutions delivered through PayByPhone’s AutoPay function. Anthony Cashel, Chief Operating Officer, PayByPhone, says, “This strategic partnership with a global market leader like Designa further cements not only our commitment to simplify our users’ journeys but also continues to expand significantly our global influence and scope in gated off-street parking. Today we are delivering a truly frictionless, integrated experience for our drivers that is backed by intelligent, connected solutions.” Christian Grzona, Chief Digital Officer, Designa, says, “"This partnership reflects Designa's commitment to delivering integrated solutions that simplify everyday life for parking operators. With the connection of PayByPhone's parking use-cases to Designa PARKETPLACE® we enable our customer base to unlock the massive potential from the PayByPhone user base for their parking asset and digitalize more parking transactions." The first city to benefit from the partnership between PayByPhone and Designa is Nuremberg, Germany. Other locations across Germany, Austria and then North America, France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom will follow. To use AutoPay, drivers simply opt-in in the PayByPhone app before starting their journey. Once activated, they can enter and exit participating garages without taking a ticket, visiting pay stations, or even opening the app.  To learn more about PayByPhone, visit www.paybyphone.com. Follow PayByPhone on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. ABOUT PAYBYPHONE PayByPhone is a global leader in mobile parking payments. We simplify the journeys for millions of people through our smart, intuitive mobile payment technology and exciting features. We work with over 1,300 cities and operators across the UK, North America, France, Germany, and Switzerland. More than 110 million drivers worldwide have downloaded the PayByPhone app to simplify their parking and vehicle payments to date. To discover how our products and services can elevate your driving experience, please visit www.paybyphone.com PayByPhone. We simplify your journey, so you can focus on what matters most. ABOUT DESIGNA Designa has been a global leader in fully automated parking systems for more than 70 years. With over 600 employees in more than 60 countries, we develop intelligent parking management solutions that meet the highest standards every day. Our tailor‑made systems adapt flexibly and precisely to individual requirements — whether for airports, hotels, shopping centers, hospitals, or entire cities. For further details on how our solutions can enhance your parking operations and how we are shaping the future of parking, please visit designa.com. Press contact: Celine Borsberry Communications Consultant Indaba celine@weareindaba.com  (+44) 207 692 4964

The Milwaukee skyline sits behind the view of the Milwaukee River
Airports IPMI Blog Municipal/Cities Parking Facilities

The Largest Building in Wisconsin Might Surprise You

When you think of the largest buildings in any city, your mind probably goes to soaring skyscrapers, massive stadiums, or sprawling airports. But in Wisconsin, the largest building by square footage isn’t a tower or arena—it’s actually the Parking Garage at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. This six-story, 8,000-space post-tensioned (P/T) structure was built in three phases. The Red Section, closest to the terminal, was originally constructed in 1977. A 1989 expansion, known as the Blue Section, added 126,000 square feet per floor along the western edge, and a 2002 expansion, the Yellow Section, extended the garage along the northern side, adding another 209,000 square feet per floor. Altogether, the garage covers more than 3.5 million square feet, making it the largest building—by square footage—in the entire state of Wisconsin. For comparison: U.S Bank Center (Milwaukee): Tallest building in Wisconsin – 42 stories, 1,077,607 sq ft Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons (Milwaukee): 32 stories, 1,100,00 sq ft Clinical Services Center at University of Wisconsin-Madison: 1,897,439 sq ft Lambeau Field (Green Bay): 1,900,000 sq ft During these expansions, a total of six elevators were added: two in the 1989 section and four more in the 2002 expansion. The 2002 project also introduced an enclosed pedestrian skywalk on the third level, featuring two sets of moving walkways. This climate-controlled corridor connects the garage to the terminal, offering comfort and convenience for travelers during Wisconsin’s hot summers and frigid winters. For most of the year—aside from peak travel periods like Spring Break—this massive structure has ample capacity to accommodate nearly all travelers who choose to park there. So next time you’re planning to park at MKE, choose the garage and take a moment to look around and appreciate the sheer scale of this remarkable facility. You can proudly say, “I’m standing in the largest building in Wisconsin!” Vincent Campagna, PTMP, is a Manager, Parking & Ground Transportation for Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. Vincent can be reached at vcampagna@mitchellairport.com.