Airport Triples Daily Fee at Main Parking

Travelers who leave their cars at Burbank Airport’s main parking structure over the weekend could be in for a shock when they return.

Beginning today, the maximum daily parking rate jumps from $8 to $24. The move is expected to increase income from parking fees, but airport officials say it is aimed primarily at reducing crowding at the 400-space structure by encouraging motorists to use other parking lots.

The hourly parking rate remains $1, but the previous $8 daily limit has been removed, tripling the maximum price.

The new rates are almost 2 1/2 times the $10 charged by Los Angeles International Airport for main terminal parking, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles airport said.

Burbank Airport officials said they expect the steep increase to reduce the numbers using the popular central structure and to channel traffic to the 3,400 parking spaces at five outlying lots, which are cheaper but less convenient.

At two lots within walking distance, the rate remains $8 a day, said Victor Gill, airport community relations manager. The airport also has two remote lots about one-quarter of a mile away that charge $4 a day. The lots are served by airport shuttle buses every five to seven minutes, Gill said.

Airport officials said they hope the four-story central parking structure will be used only for short stays. A survey conducted by airport officials in February showed that 60% of all airport visitors stay for two hours or less, Gill said.

The new rate is expected to generate $1.5 million more a year, bringing total parking revenues for the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority to an annual $5.2 million. The added funds will go into the airport authority’s general operating fund, Gill said.

Today’s rate increase is the second this year. On June 1, airport officials raised the maximum fee at the central structure from $5 to $8 a day.

Airport officials said they decided to raise parking rates in February to alleviate crowding in the central structure, but that they waited to impose the major increase until construction of new entrances and exits to the parking lots was completed this week.