Battle over parking spaces at airport

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Finding a parking spot at the airport can be easy, if you know where to look.

"Usually when it says full lot I'll do a run through cause there's almost always a spot in there," says frequent flyer Shawn Kalis.

But many times it involves a long walk because for Kalis and other travelers, the first floor of Dayton's new parking garage is off limits, reserved for rental car pick ups and drop offs.

Although airport officials would like to change that.

Dayton city commissioners heard an ordinance Wednesday that would reduce the number of spots for rental car companies from 700 spaces to 250.

Those not renting cars could park in those freed up spaces.

"These are really the best parking spots we have at the airport," says Aviation Director Terrence Slaybaugh.

But the rental car companies spoke out against the plan at the meeting.

"We will have quite a few complaints," says Mark Drake with Avis.

They say they would like more time to discuss other options.

"The remedy I'm hoping to achieve is for the commissioners to delay their vote on those resolutions," says Walter Reynolds, an attorney for one of the rental car companies.

2 NEWS took its own look at the parking situation at the airport.

Around lunch time we couldn't find a space on the second floor and the only third floor spaces were as far away from the entrance as you could get.

But on the rental-car-only first floor we did find open spaces.

Slaybaugh tells us his people have found the same thing.

"We have monitored that space and feel this is a much better utilization of that space to make it available for the flying public," Slaybaugh says.

But the rental car companies contend the parking is necessary for their operations.

"It does have a great impact on our business," says Kive Kraft with Hertz.

The parking changes are expected to go into effect at the start of the year if they're approved.

Commissioners are likely to vote on the proposal next week unless they decide to table it to give the rental car companies more time.