Park and fly

Car parking is one of the main non-aero revenue streams for airports.

It is also an important part of the overall passenger experience. People need a secure and convenient place to park their vehicles while they travel, but the process of parking and retrieving a car at an airport can be time-consuming, stressful, and expensive.

To improve this experience, airports around the world are introducing innovative solutions that aim to make parking more convenient, efficient, and sustainable.

Technology
There are several new technologies emerging for airport parking that aim to make the process faster and more efficient. 

Some airports are using automated parking systems including Düsseldorf Airport, Gatwick, and Tokyo Haneda, where passengers simply drop off their vehicles at a designated entry point, and the system handles the rest. With the use of a series of lifts, conveyors, and shuttles to park and retrieve vehicles using license plate recognition technology. Passengers drop off their cars at a designated entry point, and the system stores the cars in designated spots.

Automated valet parking systems are relatively new and use robots to park and retrieve cars, eliminating the need for passengers to look for parking spaces or retrieve their cars from distant lots.

One of the most promising innovations is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to predict parking demand and optimise the use of available parking spaces. This technology can help airports better manage their parking facilities, reducing congestion and wait times for passengers. Amsterdam's Schiphol airport is testing a system that uses real-time data from cameras and sensors to predict parking demand and make recommendations for where to park. Dubai Airports is working on a parking management system that predicts demand and adjusts prices dynamically to encourage more efficient use of parking spaces.

Sustainability
To reduce the carbon footprint of airport parking, some airports have also implemented environmentally friendly options, such as electric vehicle charging stations and bike parking facilities. Examples of airports with environmentally friendly car parking include San Francisco, Schiphol in Amsterdam, Heathrow, and Helsinki Airport.

These airports offer a range of sustainable transportation options, such as reserved parking for low-emission, fuel-efficient vehicles, preferred parking for electric and hybrid vehicles, car-sharing services, bike parking facilities, and carbon offset programmes for parking. These initiatives aim to encourage passengers to make environmentally friendly choices when traveling to and from the airport.

Challenges
Despite these innovations and trends, airport car parking still has some challenges and limitations. One of the challenges is the high cost of parking, which can be prohibitive for some passengers. Another challenge is the limited availability of parking spaces, especially during peak travel times. Some airports also have limited transportation options to and from parking areas, which can be inconvenient for passengers with heavy luggage or mobility issues.

The rise of ride-sharing services, such as Uber have created new challenges for airports. The main challenge is the increasing competition between ride-sharing services and airport parking facilities. Many passengers now opt to use ride-sharing services rather than park their cars at the airport. This can lead to reduced revenue for parking facilities and can cause congestion and traffic flow issues around the airport as ride-sharing vehicles drop off and pick up passengers. Many airports are taking steps to compete with the threat of ride-sharing services to airport car parking. One strategy is to offer discounted or preferential parking rates for passengers who book in advance, or who are members of loyalty programmes.

The Future
As electric vehicles and self-driving cars become more prevalent, airport parking facilities will need to adapt to meet the changing needs of passengers. In the near future, we can expect to see more electric vehicle charging stations at airports and parking facilities that are optimised for electric vehicles. Self-driving cars may be able to park themselves more efficiently, and may not need as much space for parking as human-driven cars do. This could lead to smaller parking facilities, or to parking facilities that are designed to be more flexible and adaptable to changing demand.

Airports around the world are introducing innovative solutions to make parking more convenient, efficient, and sustainable. New technologies, sustainability options, and competition with ride-sharing services are driving change, and the future will likely see even more adaptation to electric vehicles and self-driving cars.

Mohamed Hisham