Along with cheap flights, there is something free on offer at Lismore Airport

Along with cheap flights, there is a big incentive to use Lismore Airport right now. Can you guess what it is?

FREE PARKING: Lismore City Council is hoping its offer of free and secure parking will draw people t decide to fly out of Lismore Airport rather than travel to Ballin and pay $14 a night. File photo: Marc Stapelberg

Lismore City Council is offering free parking at Lismore Airport for anyone wanting to leave their car there when using a REX Airlines flight.

A council spokesman said when REX Airlines offers its limited $99 one-way flights between Sydney and Lismore, “we just wanted to remind you that we are keeping your costs down by continuing to offer free parking at Lismore Airport.”

The spokesman said passengers fly south to Sydney can leave their vehicle for free at Lismore Airport in a secure area.

According to the REX website, it appears that flights will occur Monday, Wednesday and Friday departing Lismore at 9.35am to arrive in Sydney at 11.15am.

Flights to Lismore will arrive at 9.15am after a 7am departure from Sydney.

However, the REX $99 flights will be competing with those offered by Virgin and Jetstar departing Ballina / Byron Gateway Airport which are currently offering round trip fares at $115 and $103 respectively.

Ballina Airport parking is priced at $8 a day and $14 overnight but according to an online comparison website, only the long stay car park is fenced, and the main gate automatically closes and locks at 9pm, reopening at 5am the next day.

A small number of disabled parking spaces are available in the short stay car park, and are close to the main entry.

But for someone flying out of Lismore Airport and staying a six nights in Sydney would save $84 if they were going to depart from Ballina Byron Gateway Airport and leave their vehicle there.

Will free parking influence your choice of using Lismore Airport? [e-mail]