Select a region
Almost £200,000 extra could be raised by the new parking tariffs at Guernsey Airport which will come into force next month with any stays over 30 minutes now being charged for.
The airport made £822,000 in parking charges last year but Guernsey Ports said that could increase to more than a £1 million next year when drivers have to pay for any stay over half an hour, and slightly more than they currently do for any stay over one hour.
The carpark increases come hot on the tail of increased user fees at Guernsey Harbours.
Guernsey Ports has said both measures are needed to reduce the need for taxpayer funding of the harbour and airport.
Pictured: With the States looking at making savings and bringing in more money, Guernsey Ports said the new carpark tariffs will come in from 1 October.
The new car parking tariffs will be the first increases to airport parking charges since 2019. They'll come into effect on 1 October.
Guernsey Ports Head of Commercial James Underwood said the airport is not currently making enough money from its carpark which needs to change.
“Car parks are a significant income generating asset at airports across the UK. Benchmarking exercises have shown that revenue from parking at Guernsey Airport is not being maximised at present.
“Freeing up spaces for longer stays will make it easier for travellers to plan their transport to and from the airport, giving travellers confidence that we have parking available to them at peak times.
“Any revenue that we can raise through parking contributes towards the Ports’ operating costs, helps to address the current income shortfall and reduces the amount that needs to be raised through other charges.”
Pictured: The meters at Guernsey Airport will start charging for stays over 30 minutes from 1 October 2023.
As well as increasing the charges for stays over one hour, Guernsey Airport will also start charing £2 per car for stays between 30 and 60 minutes.
Guernsey Ports research shows that around three quarters of all the car park tickets issued at Guernsey Airport are for free stays of up to 60 minutes, for motorists either dropping off or meeting passengers.
From next month, that free period will be cut to 30 minutes, with the £2 charge introduced for stays of 30 minutes to one hour long.
Guernsey Ports is not expecting that to raise significant additional revenue with more than half of motorists currently parking for less than half an hour - but with around a quarter of all car park tickets issued for stays of between 30 minutes and 60 minutes there will be some revenue raised.
It is expected that many motorists will simply cut their stay shorter to be within the free 30 minute zone though.
Guernsey Ports is also hoping that cutting the free stay period will leave more spaces free for drivers leaving their car for longer and therefore paying more.
Pictured: St Peter Port Harbour.
Guernsey Ports recently announced a plan to increase charges at the airport and harbours to reduce the need for taxpayer funding of crucial Bailiwick infrastructure.
Ports forecast a loss of around £6million this year, which will be the fourth year in a row the utility has recorded a loss.
To raise the additional income it needs to fund services, Guernsey Ports has already written to all its leisure marine customers to inform them of planned increases to mooring fees.
Those increases will see some mooring charges almost double by 2026 - for example, the annual mooring charge for an XX large vessel this year is £5,296, but in 2026 it will increase to £10,232.
Pictured: The proposed change in mooring charges.
Guernsey Ports said the proposed increases at Guernsey Harbour would allow them to invest in ageing infrastructure while offsetting the covid related fall in passenger numbers in recent years.
£30million of States money has been pumped into Guernsey Ports since the pandemic to keep it afloat.
Ports propose increased charges at airport and harbours
Ports and water could be among new round of commercialisations
Ports took a financial battering during the covid storm
Comments
Once your comment has been submitted, it won’t appear immediately. There is no need to submit it more than once. Comments are published at the discretion of Bailiwick Publishing, and will include your username.
There are no comments for this article.