WPCNR WINGS AND WHEELS. From Westchester County Department of Communication. November 8, 2007: Flying out of Westchester County Airport this holiday season? Thinking of driving there? Think again. With more flights to popular destinations than ever before and with thousands of people traveling over the holidays, there are simply not enough parking spaces for everyone.
Jet taxis for departure taxiway at Westchester County Airport.
County Executive Andy Spano said, “Everywhere I go, people tell me how much they enjoy the convenience of flying out of Westchester. But because the holidays are traditionally the busiest time of year for air travel, there’s just not enough parking at the county airport to accommodate our passengers. Even under the best of circumstances, parking there is a problem. If you want the best traveling experience and want to be assured you won’t miss your flight, I strongly suggest you get a ride to the airport. Don’t drive.”
One of the ways the airport has worked to accommodate those passengers who get a ride to and from the airport is the new cell phone waiting area. Motorists meeting arriving passengers can wait there until passengers call to say they are ready to be picked up at terminal curbside. The area has an electronic sign giving airline arrival times.
Spano said the cell-phone lot not only gives motorists a convenient place to wait for passengers, it will also stop motorists from having to circle around the airport waiting for their passengers to arrive.
“For a safe, happy and stress-free trip, I urge our passengers to plan ahead of time on how they will get to the airport without driving there,” Spano said.
The airport management, the airlines and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have been working cooperatively to ensure a positive experience for holiday travelers flying out of Westchester. The airlines have been particularly helpful in notifying passengers that parking is limited when reservations are made or emailing them when flights are booked online. The airport has also taken out paid advertisements, put up additional signage and is distributing promotional materials. Inside the terminal, the TSA is putting additional staff on duty to operate at maximum efficiency and meet the high demand for passenger and baggage screening. For additional information on what passengers can or cannot bring on board, please visit www.tsa.gov.
Another alternative is AirLink, the new bus service that runs between downtown White Plains and the airport. AirLink service departs from the White Plains Metro-North Railroad Station and the White Plains Bus Terminal for the airport approximately every 30 minutes, weekdays between 6:35 a.m. and 9:06 p.m. Buses from the airport depart on a similar schedule between 7:36 a.m. and 9:36 p.m. On Saturdays, Sundays and most holidays, AirLink service begins and ends at the same times, but morning and midday operations are hourly; late afternoon and evening service are every 30 minutes. More than 9,500 people have used AirLink since the service began in June.
For information on parking alternatives, travelers can visit www.westchestergov.com/airport or call 914-995-RIDE.
