PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia International Airport said Wednesday that its garages are already full for the long Easter and Passover weekend, and that travelers should consider their options before they leave the house.
The garages at the airport are practically full with nearly all 12,000 spots taken, says Jim Tyrrell, the airport’s chief revenue officer. He said there is increased demand because of the holidays, spring break, and the return of many transatlantic flights.
Thursday is expected to be the busiest travel day of the weekend, with 41,000 people using the airport. Tyrrell said it's going to be a challenge to find an onsite parking spot.
“If people are coming to the airport and they are hellbent on driving to the airport, they need to get here three hours early for a domestic flight just to give them sufficient time to search and find a parking spot.”
He suggests reserving a spot at an offsite lot, using SEPTA or rideshare, or having someone drop you off.
For more information:
— PHL parking availability (updates every 15 minutes).
— Offsite parking options.
— SEPTA airport line.
The parking squeeze should ease some next Thursday when the airport is reopening about 2,000 spots in the 7,000-space economy lot that it closed back in March of 2020. Tyrell said resuming shuttle service has been a challenge.
“It was really easy to close it when the pandemic hit. But reopening it has proven to be a challenge, and the part that is the most challenging is resuming the transportation of people,” said Tyyrell.
Most of that lot is going to stay closed, as the airport builds cargo facilities there.