"Free airport rides to remain a thing of the past at D/FW, for now"

Monday, July 26, 2004

Free airport rides to remain a thing of the past, for now
By Bryon Okada
The Fort Worth (TX) Star-Telegram


D/FW AIRPORT - A year ago, amid tough economic times at Dallas/Fort
Worth Airport, executives brought back the unpopular drop-off fee --
charging motorists $1 to enter the airport, regardless of whether they
parked.

The people most affected were so-called meeters and greeters -- folks
who were there only to drop someone off or pick someone up.

Since then, business has improved. Summer travel exceeds pre-9-11
levels. Parking lots are full.

But the airport is still taking cash for the 15,000 drop-offs each day
and will for the foreseeable future, officials said.

"We would love to be in a position not to charge anyone to use our
facility, but we have significant costs that include meeters and
greeters at the airport," said Kevin Cox, D/FW's chief operating
officer. "We have an obligation to our airlines and the traveling public
to keep our costs down, and we believe the fee is reasonable under the
circumstances."

D/FW officials have grappled for years with a basic philosophical
question: Who are the airport's primary customers? The airlines? The
travelers?

Striking a balance between the two can be tough.

In September, with airlines struggling through the second summer after
9-11 and D/FW in the red for parking revenues, the airport board
reversed its four-year policy of no drop-off fees. Fees at the remote
and express covered parking lots were also increased.

Officials knew that the plan would be unpopular. But they collected an
additional $4.6 million in revenues this year.

Parking revenue is up 17 percent since a year ago, officials said.
Without the $1 increase, parking revenue would still be up 8 percent.

When the fee was approved last year, D/FW executives said drivers who
don't park cost the airport $11.2 million per year in extra security and
other expenses.

Of that, about $6 million was related to drop-offs.

The airport estimated that a $1 charge would only cover a portion of
that cost.

Also, nonairline revenues such as parking must increase to keep airline
costs down, D/FW Chief Executive Jeff Fegan told board members last
month during budget discussions. American recently managed to wring out
a slightly profitable quarter. And D/FW officials say they are committed
to keeping extra costs off the backs of the hometown airline.

"My primary goal is to keep the airport as low-cost as possible for the
airlines, and, in particular, American," D/FW board Chairman Max Wells
said. "I don't think anyone would suggest they're out of the woods."

Drop-off fees at D/FW Airport

Source: Dallas/Fort Worth Airport

   . From September 1979 to May 1999, Dallas/Fort Worth Airport had a
50-cent drop-off rate. Before that, drop-off rates varied from 25 cents
to 75 cents.

   . It costs D/FW about $2 in services for each meeter and greeter --
people only there to drop someone off or pick someone up.

   . A provision approved by the Airport Board requires the board to
extend the fee, or it will end in September 2006.


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************