Southwest Georgia Regional Airport installs new parking payment system

ALBANY — Visitors to Albany’s Southwest Georgia Regional Airport should notice increased parking efficiency now that the airport has installed a new automated payment system designed to allow greater ease when entering and exiting the facility.

The new system, which was installed this summer and went fully operational Thursday, was installed by ITR Parking Solutions, which specializes in parking lot access and revenue control, two of the main issues that have plagued the airport in the past.

“One of the challenges or complaints that we have gotten from passengers was that at times it took a little too long to get out of the parking lot,” said Albany Transportation Director David Hamilton. “What we’re trying to do is enhance the customer experience for those that fly into and out of the airport. One of the things we found is called a ‘pay-on-foot machine.’ The whole idea is when we did our research, these pay-on-foot machines can reduce your exit time by 35 percent.”

Upon discovering that the pay-on-foot machines could not only make it easier to exit the facility, but also help to increase the airport’s revenue by allowing the elimination of a contracted attendant service, the Albany-Dougherty Aviation Commission, and the Albany City Commission, approved purchase of the machines.

“This is supported by the Aviation Board and City Commission, and it was really a push by Sharon Subadan, the city manager, trying to improve the processes and looking for ways to generate revenue and looking for ways to enhance the experience of the customers as they come into Albany’s airport,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said the new system, which comprises two machines — one in the airport’s main terminal and one at the parking lot exit — cost roughly $38,000, which will be recouped through parking fees within the first year. After that, the revenue generated will go to the city.

“This is a revenue-generator, so it also has less impact on the general fund,” said Hamilton. “The airport does not support itself financially, so we rely on some grant funds and monies from the city’s general fund. By going this route there’s definitely less impact on the general fund, which is basically taxpayer money.”

Although Hamilton says he has no doubt the new system — which is already in use at other airports — is a vast improvement over the airport’s previous parking practices, he did say that for the next few weeks airport staff would be on hand in the parking lot to make sure everything runs smoothly and customers are not negatively impacted by the change.

“We anticipate some challenges during our start-up period, so we will have staff out during the transition period for a couple of weeks just to be out there and see what issues there are and what tweaks we need to make,” he said. “We’re really trying to speed up movement out there. That’s why we went with this machine.

“This has been successful in airports such as Hartsfield Jackson (International Airport in Atlanta), so I know it can be successful here at our airport,” he said. “Many airports are going this route. This is nothing new. We haven’t invented anything new, we’re just doing what’s best for our customers and trying to improve processes.”

Hamilton added that the switch to the new automated system is just one of many things the airport is doing to improve its customer experience and grow the profile of the airport.

“This is just one of hopefully several little changes we’ll make at the airport to make the experience of coming to the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport better for our customers,” said Hamilton. “We’re very much looking to put a grasp on this market in terms of being the airport of Southwest Georgia.”

The new pay-on-foot machine is designed to be used when travelers exit the airport, so Hamilton said he wanted to be sure customers understood how the process would work. When customers enter the airport grounds from Newton Road, they can choose to park in either the short- or long-term parking lot.

When entering their chosen parking lot, they will press a button to receive a ticket and raise the entry gate so they may park. Customers will need to take the parking ticket with them when the enter the airport, and when they leave, either shortly after they arrive or once they’ve returned from a trip, they will put that ticket in the automated machine. The machine, which takes credit, debit and cash payments, will present a charge. Once the charge, which is based on the length of time a vehicle is parked in the lot, is paid, the customer will receive a new ticket which must be used at the exit gate.

For convenience to those who don’t wish, or aren’t able, to enter the terminal, there is a machine outside that takes credit and debit so that customers can leave regardless of the time.

In the short-term parking lot, the first 0-30 minutes are free, the next 31-60 minutes are $1, and each additional hour is $3, with a daily max of $12. In the long-term lot, the first 0-60 minutes are free, and each additional hour is $2, with a daily max of $8.