Tri-Cities Airport parking overflowed with cars at Christmas. Now it will cost more
Air travel revived at the Tri-Cities Airport in 2023 but not quite enough to match the record set before the COVID pandemic.
Airport manager Buck Taft expects year-end figures to show the airport will fall about 1,000 passengers short of the 438,123 people who boarded planes in Pasco in 2019 before travel essentially shut down.
The post-pandemic revival was on full display at Christmas, when a surge in demand for seats on planes led to overwhelming demand for parking outside.
The airport was forced to turn away customers for its lots, a rare development for the Tri-Cities, where parking is usually plentiful.
Raising parking fees
The Port of Pasco will spend $2 million to expanding the credit card lot and adopt a new payment system in 2024.
To fund it and other projects on the airport, it’s raising fees to use its short- and long-term lots and its credit card lot.
The port commission voted 3-0 at its first meeting of the year to raise parking fees, the first such move since 2017.
It notes the airport receives no property tax revenue to support capital projects, including is future plans to expand the terminal and add more gates and expand the ticketing and baggage claim areas.
It will still be free to park for 25 minutes or less. Free parking for visitors picking up or dropping off passengers is good customer service, said Taft, who manages the airport for the Port of Pasco.
For everyone else, parking will cost $16 a day in the short-term lot and $12 a day in the long-term and credit card lots. That’s an increase of $3 and $2 a day, respectively.
The port pledged to review fees annually in the future.
More flights
The move comes as the Tri-Cities Airport prepares to welcome its sixth airline and added demand for parking.
American Airlines will initiate a daily flight between Pasco and Phoenix-Sky Harbor International in February.
American has started taking reservations for the new route, which will connect Tri-Cities travelers to hundreds of national and international destinations via Phoenix.
American joins Alaska, Delta, Avelo, United and Allegiant.
Go to flytricities.com
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