Perth airport has introduced a new Park & Wait
facility in a bid to discourage illegal parking by the main entrance to the
domestic terminal.
According to The West Australian, despite all
short-term car parks at the airport being free for the first 10 minutes,
approximately 63,000 motorists are illegally parking around the precinct
waiting to collect passengers arriving on a domestic flight.
The new Park & Wait area provides 50 bays for
people to wait with their vehicle in a safe area, and allows up to 90 minutes
of parking, for the cost of only a gold coin donation. Proceeds go towards
various children’s charities.
Whilst Sydney airport has a 15-minute free ‘Kiss and Dash‘ parking
period designated zone, this initiative by Perth Airport is the first of the
major Australian airports to create a ‘longer term’ Park & Wait facility.
We think that Perth’s efforts are laudable, and hope that the initiative is
successful. The Wayfinding Forum did examine some US airports recently which
offered a ‘Cell phone waiting lot’, with flight information displays, numbers
to call to check estimated arrival times, and free wireless internet. Australian
Airports – take note!