Airport creates free parking lot for people waiting on arrivals

Free parking will end repeatedly driving past terminal building.

DAYTON — Dayton International Airport, following the lead of some other metropolitan airports, has set aside a paved lot where people awaiting arrivals of family members or friends can park to wait for a cell phone call from travelers flying in to Dayton.

The free lot on airport property at the intersection of Boeing Drive and Terminal Drive will allow people doing the retrieval duties to wait in one location, rather than repeatedly driving past the terminal building to scan the crowds, said Terrence G. Slaybaugh, Dayton’s aviation director.

By year’s end, the airport plans to install a video display board at the cell phone lot so people waiting there can see the same flight-arrival information displayed on boards inside the terminal, Slaybaugh said Tuesday.

The airport also will continue its policy of allowing up to 30 minutes of free parking inside the parking garage by the terminal, so people awaiting arrivals can help with luggage, he said.

For the upcoming Columbus Day weekend Oct. 7-11, the airport will reduce its economy parking rate to $5 from the usual $6. The $5 rate will be in effect from Friday through Monday, airport spokeswoman Linda Hughes said.

By next spring, the airport plans to install new color-coded signs designed to make it easier for customers to locate long-term, short-term, economy and garage parking alternatives, Slaybaugh said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytondailyNews.com.

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