Airports Seeking Additional Revenue Raise Parking Rates

In a recent column, USA Today's Roger Yu writes that "parking rates are rising at airports across the USA." Airports that have raised their rates include Chicago (both Midway and O'Hare), San Diego, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Dallas/Fort Worth, Boston, Detroit, and Pittsburgh.

Why would airports do this?

Well, first of all, parking is already an important source of revenue for airports. For example, more than 25% of the revenue of my home airport, Providence (PVD), comes from parking fees. But more importantly, airports have been facing declines in revenues from airlines. If an airline cuts flights and/or uses smaller aircraft on routes, airports lose out on revenue from landing fees, and airports must seek ways to increase revenue.

One option, of course, is to try to raise fees for airlines, but the carriers don't like that as higher fees negatively affects the profitability of their routes. And if an airline cuts service due to a fee increase, the process is kind of self-defeating. So it can be easier for airports to get their revenues from the traveling public, from sources like concessions, and, of course, parking.

So, with rates rising, it's always wise to do some comparison shopping. For example, their could be some off-airport parking options that offer convenient airport access with lower rates than airport-operated parking options.