Airport parking fees increased in Sioux Lookout

Increased parking fees at the Sioux Lookout Airport are not sitting well with some remote community residents who use long-term parking.
Airport officials announced increased rates as of April 1 for short- and long-term parking. The revenue will be used to upgrade the parking lot such as adding more space, paving, lighting, security cameras and plug-ins.
Todd Tripp, airport manager, said the increase is a necessary part of doing business.
“It’s to generate the proper revenue we need so we can cover our costs,” he said.
Prices have jumped to $1,100 per year from $400 per year for long-term parking. On a monthly basis, prices increased to $150 from $55.
For some, the price increase is too much.
“I can’t afford it,” Mike Morris said.
Morris lives in Kasabonika and normally leaves his vehicle in Sioux Lookout when he can no longer drive it home after the winter roads close for the season.
Despite having to pay more, Morris recently left his vehicle at the airport because he didn’t want to miss his flight. However, he said he may have to start leaving his vehicle at a friend’s place in town.
Tripp said the airport is looking at options to include a parking area for long-term parking for people who leave vehicles in Sioux Lookout once the winter roads close. But, he said, it may not be on airport property, meaning it could be some distance away.
“We’re still addressing this,” Tripp said. “It’s far from over.”
As for the price increase, Tripp understands it is a hardship to users. But, he said, the airport does not receive tax dollars for parking from the municipality or from the federal and provincial governments. So it leaves the airport in the position of having to generate its own revenue.
He said complaints have come forward about the price increase, but he said many of those complaints are comparing the Sioux Lookout airport to Red Lake or Dryden. Tripp said Sioux Lookout has a larger volume than those locations. He compares it to Thunder Bay, where daily rates for long-term parking are $10. Weekly rates in Thunder Bay are $70. Tripp pointed out the prices are still lower in Sioux Lookout than in Thunder Bay, despite the parking rate increase.
Morris said he doesn’t mind paying extra, especially if it means upgrades to the parking lot. But he wants to see a more moderate increase.
“We do need those things,” Morris said of the upgrades. He also wants more parking as there is not enough space.
But Tripp said because prices have not been increased for such a long period of time, it does seem extreme.
“The fee structure we had previously was far too low,” he said, adding it didn’t meet the expenses of maintaining parking at the airport.