Closing long-term parking lot is short-sighted decision

I am sincerely baffled by the Indianapolis Airport Authority’s [May 6 online] decision to close long-term parking, the closest surface lot to the terminal, essentially forcing all surface parking to the more distant economy lot. A great many business travelers (myself included) have been willing to pay a premium to park in the $12 long-term lot and walk to the terminal.

If you were to witness late-night commuter flights come in from Atlanta, Dallas and other hubs, you would see streams of business travelers walk through the garage and out to the long-term lot, ignoring the shuttle van. We appreciate the exercise and a bit of fresh air after the challenges of air travel, and we have little patience for the endless circling and generally slow-moving shuttle buses.

How can the airport possibly justify closing the most convenient surface lot in favor of a longer shuttle ride? Why would airport staff get the convenience of nearby parking while the paying customer is forced to park farther out and wait for a shuttle? The result of this will be more waiting, more driving and more fossil fuels being burned traversing shuttles back and forth past the former long-term empty parking lot.

I spent nearly $1,000 in 2012 in airport parking fees. If IND doesn’t want my business, I will surely look to outside operators.

____________

Jeremy Hatch