The thousands of Canadian tourists driving across the B.C. border for cheaper flights are one of the major driving forces behind the planned expansion of parking facilities near Bellingham International Airport, according to the private companies behind the project.
Sagewood Holdings and Langstan Management announced last week they're partnering up to develop a 1,200-stall parking facility along Bellingham's Airport Road.
The partners said in a statement the project's business model depends on Canadian travellers frequenting the airport that sits about an hour's drive from Vancouver.
"It's far cheaper and easier for Canadians to drive (through) customs and fly out of Bellingham as opposed to paying the higher fares in Vancouver and then standing in line for an hour to clear airport customs when they reach their U.S. destination," Langstan project manager Derek Stebner said.
"I don't see that changing anytime soon."
According to a 2012 report from the Canadian Airports Council, Vancouver International Airport was losing 950,000 passengers annually to cities like Seattle and Bellingham.
The study also found about 62% of flyers passing through Bellingham's airport were Canadian.
Meanwhile, Vancouver International Airport reported last month the total number of passengers passing through it's facilities in February of this year reached 1,350,000 — a 6.7% increase over the same period in 2013.
Parking at Vancouver International Airport costs $28-30 a day in the parkade and $20-22 a day in the economy lot.
At Bellingham's aiport, the daily parking rate goes for $8-10.
But Vancouver's Park'N Fly, which offers a shuttle service to passengers, has a flexible rate that hovers around $15 depending on when it's booked.
I-5 Airport Parking in Bellingham charges $2 daily, but passengers must also book a $15 taxi ride to the airport.
Stebner said the Sagewood-Langstan project would charge less than Bellingham airport's rate and offer "superior bussing and shuttle services to customers."
The project is expected to make up 15-20% of all the long- and short-term parking near the airport once it's completed.
