Beginning Dec. 1, parking in the garages will cost $7 daily, up from $5.
Surface parking rates will also cost more except in the lot on Amelia Earhart Lane, which will remain $4 a day.
Airport trustees approved the rate increase last week after reviewing the results of a parking study, said Mark Kranenburg, director of airports for Oklahoma City.
"Our rates are still very, very low compared to the level of benefit and level of service we give to the customer,” he said.
With the exception of short term parking and parking in the west covered canopy lot, rates have not increased in 24 years, Kranenburg said.
A new, five-level parking garage opened to the public last week, adding 1,500 parking spaces at a cost of $20 million. The airport can now accommodate about 8,000 cars.
In both parking garages, travelers can access an underground tunnel connecting them to the terminal — a "fantastic asset” that keeps people out of inclement weather as they come into the airport, said Kranenburg.
Tamela Zuhars-McSwain said she travels through the airport six to 10 times a year and always believed the parking rates here were cheap.
"I moved here from St. Louis and paid over $17 for daily parking. ... Kansas City charges up to $15 for daily parking which is twice as far from the terminals as the open air lots at Will Rogers World Airport,” Zuhars-McSwain said. "I’m happy to pay the $7 if it means walking to the terminals and not having to take a shuttle.”
Other frequent fliers also aren’t really concerned about the rate increase and are relieved there’ll be more parking spaces.
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