WEST BAY — Travelers now have more parking options at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.
Last week, airport officials celebrated the completion of a $2 million covered parking area at ECP, just in time for the holidays.
“We are proud to offer the covered parking option as an added convenience for our passengers,” said ECP Director Parker McClellan. “On-site covered parking is a premium service our passengers have been seeking so this is a big step forward for ECP.”
The roughly $2 million improvement project covered 300 parking spaces where the rental car lot was formerly located. The project also included the construction of a covered walkway leading to the terminal building.
The Florida Department of Transportation paid for a portion of the project, which didn’t actually add spots, but covered existing ones.
Because covered parking is a premium service, daily rates will be higher.
McClellan said the additional parking option will provide a new revenue source for the airport, and improve ECP’s ability to lure new air service into the market.
Rates are set at $13 per day for covered parking, with an hourly rate of $4 for each of the first three hours. The rate for short-term parking at the airport is $11 per day, and $9 per day for long-term parking.
Operations at the airport’s former off-site covered parking area, owned by the St. Joe Co., ceased about a year ago following an agreement that also gave the airport control of an 11-acre parcel near the general aviation terminal.
Since then, ECP has not offered travelers a covered parking option. Of the five major airports in the Northwest Florida region, Pensacola International Airport is the only other airport that offers a covered parking service.
