AIRPORT PARKING RATES RISING HIKE ANTICIPATES GREATER DEMAND.

Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer

BURBANK - Parking prices at the Bob Hope Airport will jump as much as 40 percent on July 1, as airport operators take advantage of an expected summer travel boom to beef up revenues.

Under the planned increase, the maximum daily rate at the airport's economy lots would move from $5 to a range of $6.55 to $7.05. Maximum daily rates for valet parking would move from $13 to a range of $17.05 and $18.35. The short-term daily maximum, now $17, also will climb. ``We'll still have very attractive parking rates, compared to other airports like LAX,'' said Charles Lombardo, president of the Airport Authority Commission.

The airport controls 5,500 parking spaces.

``It's just that we do have heavy demand coming up with a heavy travel season, so we feel that there is room to move the prices up,'' said Victor Gill, spokesman for the airport authority.

The increase comes as nearby 2,200-space Star Park raises its rates beginning today.

At Star Park, adjacent to the airport, the price for an uncovered parking space will be $7.95 a day, up from $7, said Ramon Pena, facility manager.

Star Park's price hike is unrelated to the planned mark-up by Bob Hope Airport, Pena said.

Before a parking price war between the airport and Star Park, airport rates were $9 a day for the economy lots and $20 a day for valet parking.

Use of the airport's parking facilities has increased recently, and the economy lots are routinely full on weekends.

It was unclear if the parking rates will go back down after the busy summer months, but Gill said the airport authority tries not to change its rates too often.

Alex Dobuzinskis, [phone]

alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com