Charlottetown Airport increasing parking fees starting Feb. 1

The Charlottetown Airport is raising parking fees starting Feb. 1 to help pay for its new parking system.

Doug Newson, the CEO of the Charlottetown Airport Authority, said in an interview with Island Morning's Laura Chapin that short-term parking rates will increase 16 per cent to $1.75 from $1.50 every 30 minutes, and long-term parking rates will increase six per cent.

"These are increases that we never like to implement, but obviously, like with everything else, our costs are going up, so we have to try to find a way to recoup some of those costs," said Newson.

The new parking system, expected to be implemented in the spring of 2025, will prevent people from entering the airport terminal to pay or validate parking at a ticket booth.

Newson said the current parking system is outdated and inefficient and doesn't think the public reaction to the parking rate hikes will be "overwhelming."

"This is sort of the cost of investing in our infrastructure, and so hopefully, there won't be a whole lot of pushback," Newson said.

"Most people, and most of our revenue, actually comes from our long-term parking lot because, as I said, the short-term parking is [free the first hour] anyway."

System breakdowns mostly outside

Newson said system breakdowns happen mostly outside the terminal and can happen because of weather conditions.

"As these parking systems get old, I think if you talk to anybody in a climate like ours that operates these systems, the reliability, the ability to get parts, the service, things like that, tend to get a little bit more challenging, and we see more downtime with the system," he said.

"The goal with this new system will be something much more modern and more efficient and less disruption."

Newson said the Charlottetown Airport scanned the region and found the rates remain lower than those at other airports.

"Every year, as part of our business planning process, we certainly look at all of our fees and charges and rates," he said. "And we also look at what our competing airports that are, you know, two and three hours away are charging. And these rates are still well below what we're seeing in the region."

Newson said the airport is exploring the possibility of going cashless with the new payment system, as he said 99 per cent of the transactions at the airport are card-related.

In addition, Newson said the airport is having discussions right now with airlines to increase the passenger fee to $30, which he said would still be a lower price for Atlantic Canada.

"Right now, we are the lowest in Atlantic Canada at $25, and so you know a $5-increase could be coming in the new year as well," he said. "We're just having those discussions now with our airline partners."

Newson said the decision to increase the passenger fee would be made relatively soon, and the airport would provide a minimum 60-day notice before the price changes. He said airlines will need more time to implement that price since the fee is collected on the flight ticket.