If you are tired of paying too much for airport parking, you should check off-airport parking options before you arrive to see if you can get a better deal by booking ahead.
That’s the advice of Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) chairman Rod Sims, after his agency issued its annual airport monitoring report.
The biggest finding that titles the Press Release from ACCC was that there was a “Lack of competitive pressure at airports”, but the report failed to address the monopoly in which these airports have on charging access fees to its direct competitors – being the off-airport parking operators (which the ACCC suggests consumers check-out).
Photo credit: Beegee49 on VisualHunt
“The ACCC found that consumers parking at the airports could save up to 66.5 percent for longer durations by booking online,” Mr Sims said. “Consumers should consider all of their options, including whether they could obtain a cheaper rate by booking online or using an off-airport parking operator.”
Melbourne Airport makes the highest profit from parking but has the equal lowest consumer satisfaction level – The ACCC report found of the four major airports, all had increased their revenue, whilst also reducing their quality of service.
The report found Melbourne Airport passenger traffic was up 3.6 percent in 2015 to 32.2 million, the largest increase of all of the four airports. It also noted that a Melbourne Airport rail link would have little impact on parking fees, with the main benefit of an airport rail link was that people would switch from other forms of transport such as taxi or train.
So how can there be more competitive pressure? To be honest, the airport parking industry is already highly competitive, but what’s really impeding a true (even playing field) competition is the massive access fees airports, like Melbourne Airport charge off-airport operators to drop-off and pick up passengers.
Consistently, Melbourne Airport earned the largest amount of car parking revenue among the four monitored airports, which also include Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. Increasing its car park revenue by 14.8 percent to $147 million, the highest that any monitored airport has ever reported, the ACCC said.
Sydney Airport earned $127.8 million, an increase of 4.7 per cent, while Brisbane Airport increased its revenue by 4.6 percent to $84.5 million.
Melbourne Airport made the greatest proportion of its total revenue from its car park operations (19.5 percent), followed by Perth (15.2 per cent), Brisbane (13.8 per cent) and Sydney (10.7 per cent).
Research by the ACCC found that almost 70 cents in every dollar you spend on airport parking becomes profit! Support off-airport parking which is cheaper parking, better service and provides hundreds of local jobs.
Ace Airport Parking offers an alternative to the high prices of Melbourne Airport, be it short-term parking or long-term parking. Ace Airport Parking has a range of parking options to suit any budget. Use of our car parking facility eliminates the need to have to face the angst of dealing with Melbourne airport’s crowded car parks. Simply hop on to one of our fast, free shuttle buses and you can be at Melbourne airport in minutes. You can also treat your car while you are away to a car wash or service. Book online today!
Melbourne Airport – Airport Monitoring Report Infographics
