Melbourne Airport slashes terminal parking fees by up to 20 per cent

MELBOURNE Airport has cut its unpopular parking fees in a bid to restore customer satisfaction. But it may not be enough to please frustrated travellers who have long complained of a parking rip-off.

MELBOURNE Airport has cut its unpopular parking fees by up to 20 per cent in a bid to restore customer satisfaction.

But it may not be enough to please frustrated travellers who have long complained of a parking rip-off.

From March 1, drivers will pay $12 for an hour, $24 for three hours and $51 for a full day of parking at the terminal. The cuts do not apply to long-term parking.

It will make a one-hour park at Melbourne cheaper than Sydney, Brisbane and Perth airports, which charge $19, $17 and $13 respectively.

MELBOURNE AIRPORT POCKETS $1.1BN IN CARPARKING FEES

UBER VS TAXI AT MELBOURNE AIRPORT

The new three-hour rate is similar to Perth ($22), Brisbane ($23) and cheaper than Sydney ($36.50).

Melbourne Airport chief of parking and ground access Lorie Argus said the decision was underpinned by customer research conducted late last year.

“The general feedback was that (customers) would like us to look at drive-up prices in the ‘at terminal’ car parks,” she said.

“Customers have told us what they want and we have listened by reducing terminal parking prices by up to 20 per cent.

Ms Argus said long-term parking remained broadly popular with travellers because of its competitive rates.

A one-hour stay at a terminal will cost drivers $12 under the new fee structure. Picture: Jason Edwards

Melbourne Airport has faced accusations of using its monopoly on parking to charge exorbitant fees, as travellers face a shortage of transport options.

Drivers paid $135.3 million in 2016, or more than $370,000 a day, according to the latest data available.

A 2017 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission report found the airport pocketed 59c for every dollar spent on parking.

Consumer Action Law Centre spokesman Jonathan Brown said simply cutting fees would not restore trust.

“We’re concerned about any market or product where it seems profits come out of thin air,” he said.

“It should be clear what you’re paying for — the best way for airports to do this is to be upfront and honest about their costs.

“What is our parking really costing them and are they making a fair profit or gouging us?”

Drivers will be slugged $51 for a day of short-term parking at the terminal. Picture: Mark Stewart

AIRPORT RAIL LINK A MUST AS MELBOURNE GROWS

The airport appeared to acknowledge some of its critics in a statement announcing this week’s cuts, citing the “rising cost of living and flat wage growth”.

And last November it introduced a budget car park, linked by a free shuttle bus to terminals, with a rate of $10 for up to four hours parking.

But frustrations remain among those with little choice but to take a car to the airport.

Melbourne Airport introduced a budget car park last year with a free shuttle bus to the terminals. Picture: Jason Edwards

University student William Johnson said he struggled with airport parking fees when picking up friends and family members.

“It’s definitely a struggle, especially if you’re waiting on relatives and they get held up in customs or baggage — you could easily rack up a small fortune,” he said.

Mr Johnson said airport parking should be pegged to hourly rates in the CBD.

“It should be in the same ballpark ... so $5 to $6 an hour, in my opinion.”

The Andrews Government has flagged plans for a rail link and is expected to release further details before November’s election.

[e-mail]

@edjgardiner