Watch the video above: record number of passengers strains parking at Saskatoon’s airport
SASKATOON – Ranked third in the country for growth, 2013 was a banner year for the Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport. In total 1.389 million passengers passed through the airport, up 4.7 per cent from 2012.
“As the demand increases there’s a need for additional parking, it’s something the authority is well aware of and is in plans right now to provide a long-term comprehensive ground side plan,” said Stephen Maybury, CEO of the Saskatoon Airport Authority.
The plan will be executed in phases with an initial piece of the puzzle already complete in the form of two overflow parking lots.
“The one overflow onboard at 300 parking stalls which patrons are using this year, it’s actually full at this moment and then we’ll have long-term plans over the next four years to phase the elements of roads, services and the exact type of model we’re going to use here to expand on parking,” Maybury said.
While circling the main parking lot to find a spot at the airport isn’t new, passengers say they are feeling the impact especially in these frigid temperatures.
“They definitely need more parking for sure and more convenience would be nice,” said Shelly Jeffery.
In total, there are more than 1,500 parking spots at the airport. As anticipated, the public parking lot was filled to capacity during the February break and overflow parking was prepared to accommodate the demand. At this point, the airport authority provides complimentary parking to overflow lots but the stalls are not electrified.
Something many passengers said they wouldn’t take advantage of given the weather.
“Our car does do quite well without being plugged…in summer sure but we live in a winter province,” said Nancy Broten.
Many passengers also admit that they never fully utilize the parking lot on an overnight/weekly basis due to the expense, which broken down is $12 a day or $84 a week.
Meanwhile, hotels in close proximity to the airport offer their own rates. The Saskatoon Inn offers spots for $10 a day, $50 week as long as those traveling stay at the hotel at least one night either coming or going. The Heritage Inn charges $7 a day, $40 a week but stated they could not guarantee an electrified stall.
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