Orlando International Airport is proposing a parking fee hike for the first time in a decade, along with adding an upcharge for premium parking.
The proposal would raise rates in the garages near the terminal from $3 to $4 an hour and the daily rate would go from $17 to $19. Prime parking on the top of the garage would cost $20.
The daily rates at other Florida airports are: $15 at Fort Lauderdale International Airport, $17 at Miami International and $18 at Tampa International, according to an airport survey.
The Orlando airport has 19,158 parking spaces; 3,705 are in Garage A next to the main terminal, 3,595 are in Garage B and the terminal-top garage has 1,648 spaces. Revenue from parking brings in $54 million of the airport’s $500 million a year revenue.
Parking is already scarce most weekdays at the airport, which is building a third garage at the new south terminal, which will add another 1,800 spaces in the fall.
Local parking companies that line State Road 436 offer all day parking with shuttle service to the airport with rates that range from $5.99 per day at Park to Fly to $7.95 at WallyPark. Many of these off-site parking lots also offer discounts on Groupon.
To keep travelers from leaving the convenience of airport parking, the proposal calls for the daily rate of $10 for outlying, surface lots to remain the same, but the cost for the first three hours would increase from $4 to $5.
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority’s board, which runs the airport, will vote on the parking increase at its June 21 public meeting. If approved, the higher rates would begin next year.