Guernsey Airport parking tariffs from 1st October 2023

Guernsey Ports is looking to generate more income from car parking at the airport as part of plans to reduce reliance on taxpayer funding.

It is aiming to encourage more passengers to consider the convenience of stress-free parking for short or long stays, which raised £822,000 last year.

That could rise to more than £1 million next year, following a review of tariffs and moves to make more spaces available for travellers at peak times.

Currently, around three quarters of all the car park tickets issued at Guernsey Airport are for free stays of up to 60 minutes, for islanders either dropping off or meeting passengers.

From next month, the free period will be reduced to 30 minutes, and a £2 charge introduced for stays of up to an hour.

That is not expected to raise significant additional revenue from very short stays, since more than half of motorists currently park for less than half an hour.

Around a quarter of tickets are for stays of between 30 minutes and 60 minutes, but most of these are expected to become shorter stop-offs when the free period is reduced.

However, that has the potential to free up spaces for paying customers seeking longer stays, which at peak times can be limited.

As well as the reduction in the free parking period, existing tariffs are also increasing from 1 October, for the first time since 2019.

Guernsey Ports Head of Commercial James Underwood said: “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.”

The tariff changes will come into effect on 1 October 2023.