Parking revenues continue to drop at Bob Hope Airport

Income from parking fees took a nose dive at Bob Hope Airport in January, dropping about 6.2% compared to the same period last year, according to the latest figures released this week.

Parking fees — an important revenue source — generated $1.5 million for the airport in January, down from almost $2 million during the same month last year, according to a report to the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority on Monday.

At the same time, the number of passenger using the airfield continued to slide, decreasing by 2.2%.

“Something is different in the way the parking patron is behaving,” said airport spokesman Victor Gill.

Two possible explanations, he said, are that passengers are parking in less expensive lots or are having someone drive them to the airport — or a combination of both.

There was also a drop in valet parking in January, said Dan Feger, the airport’s executive director.

Parking revenues, which make up about 40% of the airfield’s operating revenues, have been declining steadily during the past several months.

The airport handled 333,530 passengers in January, down from 340,954 in January 2011, which was under budget projections.

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-- Mark Kellam, Times Community News

Twitter: @LAMarkKellam