Increased parking rates at the Aspen/Pitkin County airport aimed at discouraging non-traveler “day parking” go into effect October 1st. The biggest increase will be felt by those who park at the airport between 2 and 12 hours where prices increase to $6 per hour with a $40 max. After 12 hours, the rates return to the normal price structure of a maximum of $12 per day. Parking shortages for travelers was the impetus for the change. The airport was seeing increased use of its parking lots by people spending the day in Aspen for work or pleasure. Until now, day-parking rates at the airport have been lower than parking meter rates in downtown Aspen.
This sign has been placed at Airport Lot A (longer-term parking area) to emphasize the biggest increase that will impact people parking between 2 and 12 hours.
“We simply had to find a way to put a stop to non-travelers using our airport parking lots. We have limited parking space here and we have to think of the traveler first. We can’t have folks who are trying to catch a flight find out that there’s no place to park when they get here,” said Aspen/Pitkin County Airport Director, John Kinney. “We’ve literally had people miss their flights because of parking shortages,” Kinney said.
Longer-term parking rates at the airport for travelers who are away for days, weeks or longer will remain unchanged. A complete list of airport parking rates can be found at www.aspenairport.com.
“We’re hoping our day parking disincentive approach will raise awareness among people who have found the airport a cheap and convenient place to park for the day. There are other options including the Brush Creek Park and Ride and Buttermilk parking lot during the summer months, not to mention using mass transportation or getting dropped off and picked up instead of parking here.”
In addition to raising parking rates, approximately 100 new parking spaces are being constructed on airport property beginning October 1st. This will result in a 40% increase in parking on airport property. Another project expected to reduce parking pressure at the airport is the construction of a Cell Phone Lot where people picking up travelers can wait in their vehicles until flights land.
Construction is planned during the off-season between October 1st and Thanksgiving.
MEDIA CONTACT: John Kinney - Airport Director: 9790-456-3123