Airport parking management, a headache opening the way to new players

If in the 1980s, it was still possible to meet many people who had never flown in their lives, it has become extremely rare today. In 2015, there were more than 7 billion airplane trips in the world. It's as if every human being on earth has flown once in a year. Foreign vacations, once the preserve of the wealthy populations of Europe, the United States and Japan, are now enjoyed by citizens of many emerging countries: South Korea, China, Brazil, India, South Africa...

But the democratization of air travel can also be explained by the emergence of low-cost airlines, which have greatly contributed to lowering the price of air transport. With companies like Ryanair or easyJet, anyone can now connect two European cities for less than 50 euros round trip. While the majority of planes were grounded for more than a year due to the pandemic, the relaxation of sanitary measures around the world has allowed for a strong recovery of the sector between 2021 and 2022.

 

Sommaire :

1. Comment rejoindre les aéroports qui sont loin des centres-villes ?

2. À l'aéroport, des parkings saturés et trop souvent hors de prix

3. Aujourd'hui, de nouveaux acteurs apportent davantage de flexibilité

 

1. How to reach airports that are far from city centers?

The advent of air transport and the emergence of low-cost airlines with unbeatable prices have redrawn the map of airport spaces. Most of France's major cities now have their own airport located on the outskirts of the city: Marseille (Marignane), Toulouse (Blagnac), Lyon (Colombier-Saugnieu), Bordeaux (Mérignac), Nantes (Bouguenais)...

The advantage of building an airport twenty or thirty kilometers from the city center is that it avoids nuisances for city dwellers. However, this poses the problem of access. With the majority of travelers coming to the airport from the center of a major city, how do you get there easily and quickly?

Due to trends in the airline market, this question has become a real issue for the various companies that manage airports in France and Europe. Today, it is possible to reach most airports by public transport: special shuttles, train, bus or tramway.

However, these means of transportation tend to increase the cost and duration of the trip, and make it more complex (especially if you have large luggage or are traveling with children). In addition, the last few kilometers to reach the city on the way back are often exhausting. For this reason, a majority of travelers now choose to take their car to the airport and back.

 

2. At the airport, parking lots are saturated and too often overpriced

As a result of these new trends in the air transport market, more and more parking lots are being built around airports. Most of them are built and operated directly by the companies that manage the airports. They have the advantage of being located as close as possible to the boarding and landing terminal.

But there is still a problem: the exponential increase in the number of passengers has not always been anticipated in its proper proportions. Today, these parking lots are saturated most of the time. It is very difficult to find a space, even when you book in advance.

Moreover, this airport parking management policy inevitably leads to an overall increase in prices. For the majority of people who want to take a low cost flight, the parking lots closest to the terminal are unaffordable. Parking there for a week can double or triple the cost of the trip.

Saturated and expensive, these parking areas are therefore generally replaced by other parking lots, further away, which have the advantage of costing significantly less, even if their price remains prohibitive for many. On the other hand, they are not covered, which means that vehicles are exposed to the vagaries of the weather. Faced with all these problems, travelers feel stuck.

Some even choose to take a cab for the outward journey, or order a driver to drive the last few kilometers back to the city.

 

Read also | 5 tips to avoid losing your suitcase on the plane

 

3. Today, new players are bringing more flexibility

Fortunately, problematic situations encourage the emergence of solutions and the appearance of new players on the market. Thanks to them, your choice is no longer limited to taking public transportation to the airport, or paying a fortune to park there.

With a company like Blue Valet, travelers can now choose flexibility. This company offers a valet parking service to anyone who wants to travel to an airport like Paris-Orly, Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle, Lyon-Saint-Exupéry, Marseille-Provence or Nice-Côte-d'Azur. This way, not only will you not have to waste your time trying to find a place in saturated parking lots, but you will also benefit from much lower rates than in official airport parking lots.

It is very easy to book a valet parking on the Blue Valet website. Just enter the dates and times of your trip on the booking platform. When you arrive at the airport terminal, a valet will be waiting for you and will pick up your car. For the duration of your stay, your vehicle will be safe in a covered and monitored parking lot. The valet will meet you in front of the terminal when you return and you can leave as if a friend had come to bring your vehicle back. That's flexibility and comfort!

 

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