Starting December 1st: parking rates at Kelowna International Airport are going up.
Kelowna City Council voted unanimously in favour of the increases at Monday’s meeting.
The costs are as follows:
These increases will go primarily towards creating new parking at the airport to keep up with the steadily increasing number of passengers.
“With regards to parking, we are reaching operational capacity, and the Airport is anticipating the need to expand parking facilities in the near future,” said Airport Finance Manager Shayne Dyrdal. “This would lead to additional capital costs as well as operational costs.”
Councillor Ryan Donn expressed some concern over the additional parking spaces, citing a recent increase in thefts and incidents in these parking lots. Dyrdal then told council that tighter security is a top priority at the current lots, as well as the future ones.
“We’ve been working with the RCMP to figure out how to mitigate these issues,” she said. “One of the items that we have put into place already is the fact that anyone who feels uncomfortable or unsafe walking to their car, can request an escort either from the security personnel on-site or from the valley parking booth.”
She also mentioned that YLW plans on implementing ride-hailing services within the next year.
The new parking spaces at YLW are expected to be complete late next year.