Just over three months after the new multi-level car park opened at Auckland Airport’s domestic terminal, travellers are showing a real preference for the new facility.

Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL) general manager retail Nick Forbes says, “Customer feedback from travellers strongly indicated a need for more covered parking at the domestic terminal and for enhanced facilities for business travellers. Level 1 of the multi-level car park is a dedicated business parking area and, without any advertising, most days it is at least three-quarters full.”

The car park has been further enhanced by the recent opening of a covered footbridge linking it to the domestic terminal. Mr Forbes says promotion of the new car park has been deliberately low key until the footbridge was completed so the early uptake by travellers has been particularly encouraging.

By December 2006 travellers using the footbridge will have direct and covered access to the domestic terminal building, which is being extensively redeveloped.

Alongside standard parking spaces are new car rental facilities, including offices for on-airport car rental operators. With direct access from the offices to the fleets of rental cars, the new arrangements are proving equally popular for the car rental operators and their customers.

In other car parking developments at the airport, tariffs have recently been streamlined in response to customer needs. All short-term car parks, including covered spaces, are now a flat $2 per 20 minutes during the first hour.

“Many customers seek a conveniently located park when picking up or dropping off travellers. Previously some paid up to $10 for the first hour, so the new $2 tariff makes a short visit to the car park much more affordable and encourages people not to linger curbside,” Mr Forbes says.

Public car park prices at Auckland Airport have not increased since 1 July 2005.

In September, AIAL engaged Wilson Parking, which operates car parks at major airports across New Zealand and Australia, to assist in the further development of Auckland Airport’s parking services.

“While Wilson Parking will manage and operate the car parks, AIAL will retain full control of service levels, branding across the airport and, importantly, tariffs,” Mr Forbes says. “Wilson Parking has significant experience at major Australian airports and brings some really smart technological opportunities that will benefit our car park customers. We are delighted to be working with them to meet the needs of our customers into the future.”

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