Spring break travelers fill parking garage at KCI’s new terminal; Economy lot best option
Travelers catching flights at Kansas City International Airport are finding the parking garage at the new terminal is full.
“The new 6,200 space parking garage ($25/day) and surface parking ($18/day) have reached capacity,” the airport announced on social media. “If you’re flying out today please make use of Economy Parking ($7.50/day.)“
It’s peak travel time with spring break and there will be a high volume of travelers this week and next, said Justin Meyer, deputy director of aviation for the Kansas City Aviation Department.
The parking garage reached capacity Tuesday morning. Since then, airport officials have been metering its use. For every 50 spots that empty, 50 cars are let in. The adjacent surface lot has also been bumping into capacity as well, Meyer said.
The valet service at the garage, which costs $33 a day, is open and taking passengers. The entrance to valet parking is on the departures level road.
The new garage has 2,000 more spaces than the parking garages at the B and C terminals combined, Meyer said. Although the surface lot has fewer spaces than the circle parking it replaced, there is a net gain of 1,000 parking spaces overall.
For drivers picking up passengers arriving at the airport, they will need to wait at the cellphone lot at 680 Brasilia Ave. until their traveler exits the terminal, since there isn’t space in the parking structure.
Travelers should plan to park in Economy Parking.
“We’re encouraging travelers that are traveling out of town for an extended period of time to make use of the Economy Parking lot,” Meyer said.
Although the Economy Parking is also filling, there is an overflow lot which used to be for Terminal B that can be used, Meyer said. Travelers can also use Park Air Express at 11500 NW Prairie View Road, which is a lot managed by a third party for the aviation department.
While there is an option in the future to use the parking garages at the old terminals for overflow parking, they are not available yet because it requires a busing route that is not set up, Meyer said. The long term plan is to connect the garage at the B terminal to the new terminal via a walkway. That would happen after the demolition of Terminal B.
The Parking Spot and Park ‘N Go also offer parking near the airport.
Because of the high demand, people should give themselves extra time to find parking at the airport for at least the next few weeks.
“I’d certainly make sure that you give yourself plenty of time that should you arrive and find that your preferred parking option is not available that you have ample of time to find an alternate plan,” Meyer said.
