Redesigning parking facilities using a parking service satisfaction survey at Izumo local airport in Japan

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the need to improve parking facilities at Japan’s Izumo Airport. The occupancy of on-site parking lots was analyzed using one-day, weekend, and long-term parking metadata, and passengers passing through the security gate were surveyed on their satisfaction with airport parking. More than 4,000 passengers were recruited for the survey, of whom over 1,000 passengers who drove a car were asked about their satisfaction with the number and size of the parking lots available, the space for vehicle traffic, and the pedestrian walkway to the terminal. Additionally, they answered questions regarding necessary parking lot improvements and if it was better to expand the parking space or charge fees for it. The occupancy metadata analysis found that parking lots near the terminal buildings were almost full, whereas those farther away were comparatively unoccupied. The ordered logit estimation results for satisfaction showed that older respondents, those who parked far away from the terminal building, and those who took morning flights had significantly negative satisfaction levels. Similar estimation results for parking services improvement showed that users dissatisfied with the number of parking lots wanted improved parking services and preferred parking space expansion over a new fee. The combination study of metadata and satisfaction survey sheds new light on occupancy asymmetry, which contributes the most to the dissatisfaction over the number of parking lots. Therefore, smoothing occupancy and traffic trajectories between these areas is key to improving drivers’ satisfaction.