Burlington Airport Rolls Out New Parking System with Free First Hour—and a $2 Daily Rate Increase
Travelers using the parking garage should anticipate minor delays during the first three days of installation. The garage entrance will be reduced to a single lane from November 10 through November 12
Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport begins installing modernized parking technology on Monday, November 10, 2025, introducing mobile payment options and a free first hour of parking alongside a 16.7% increase in daily parking rates.
What’s Changing at the Airport
Beginning Monday, November 10, the airport owned by the City of Burlington is replacing its parking garage infrastructure with a new system from FlashParking Inc. The project replaces what airport officials describe as “outdated T2 Parking Systems” with a modern Parking Access and Revenue Control System (PARCS).
The new system introduces digital payment capabilities, including pay-by-phone options and support for Apple Pay and Google Pay, according to a July 30 memorandum from Nicolas Longo, Director of Aviation.
Immediate Impact: Expect Delays November 10-12
Travelers using the parking garage should anticipate minor delays during the first three days of installation. The garage entrance will be reduced to a single lane from Monday, November 10, through Wednesday, November 12, according to airport alerts and local news coverage.
The airport is advising all travelers parking at the garage during this period to plan to arrive early.
To assist travelers during the transition, the airport will deploy its Ambassador team—trained staff responsible for providing information and processing parking transactions—to help navigate the new system and resolve any technical issues.
The New Rate Structure: Free Hour and Higher Daily Cap
The modernization comes with a two-part change to parking rates.
The benefit: The garage now offers the first hour of parking free, a policy explicitly designed to benefit travelers making brief visits for passenger pickups or drop-offs. This represents a new perk; the previous system charged $2.00 per hour from entry.
The cost: The daily maximum parking rate increases from $12.00 to $14.00—a $2.00 increase that amounts to 16.7% more for travelers parking longer than one day.
The policy for persons with Handicap Parking Permits remains unchanged, continuing to provide one day of parking at no cost.
How the Technology Works
The new FlashParking system represents a fundamental shift from paper tickets to camera-based technology.
The old T2 system required travelers to take a barcoded ticket upon entry, retain it throughout their trip, and pay at an in-terminal kiosk or exit gate. Lost tickets required calling airport staff for manual processing.
The new system uses AI-enabled license plate recognition (LPR) technology that automatically tracks vehicles by their plates, eliminating the need for paper tickets entirely. According to FlashParking’s product information, this creates “seamless entry, exit and payment” without tickets or kiosks.
Travelers can pay in multiple ways:
Mobile browser: Scan a QR code or tap a text link upon entry to claim a parking session and pay directly from a phone browser, without downloading an app
Digital wallets: Use Apple Pay, Google Pay, or tap-to-pay credit cards
Traditional kiosks: Payment stations remain available for those preferring conventional methods
FlashParking app: Available for registered monthly parkers, primarily airport employees and frequent users
The license plate recognition technology provides airport management with detailed data on garage usage patterns, peak times, and traffic flow—information airport officials say will help address longstanding congestion issues.
Why the Airport Is Making This Change
Public forums reveal significant frustration among Vermonters with the existing parking system. Travelers have reported the garage frequently reaching capacity, creating confusion and forcing some to use uncovered overflow lots. In some instances, the garage filling up has displaced airport employees who had paid for annual passes to designated parking areas.
Airport officials state the new system aims to “streamline operations and reduce congestion at exits during peak travel periods” while “improving the overall experience for passengers.”
Project Costs and Financing
The airport is acquiring the new system through a 60-month “Hardware as a Service” (HaaS) contract with FlashParking Inc., according to the July 30 memorandum from Director Longo.
The contract requires a down payment of $199,079.37 plus monthly payments of $7,741.31, totaling $663,557.97 over five years. To cover the initial costs, the airport increased its fiscal year 2026 budget for this item from $150,000 to $269,000.
By structuring the purchase as a subscription service rather than a single capital expenditure, the airport can fund the monthly payments directly from parking revenues without requiring a large, one-time appropriation from the City of Burlington.
Connection to Larger Airport Improvements
The parking system upgrade follows the $19 million Terminal Integration Project (TIP) that opened in October 2022. That project, funded by a Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Grant secured by Senator Patrick Leahy, modernized the airport interior by creating a streamlined security checkpoint, connecting two terminals, and expanding passenger seating.
The airport is positioning the parking improvements as part of Project NexT, described as “the largest initiative in airport history.” This long-term plan involves replacing the north concourse and transforming the terminal building with $34 million in FAA grant funding and Passenger Facility Charges. Project NexT emphasizes operational efficiency, sustainability features including mass timber construction and geothermal energy, and enhanced traveler amenities.
While the parking project is funded separately from Project NexT through parking revenues, the airport’s website prominently features the parking garage alert on the Project NexT page, linking the modernization efforts thematically from “curb to gate.”
What Happens Next
The installation begins Monday with the three-day period of single-lane access at the garage entrance through Wednesday, November 12. Airport Ambassadors will be on-site to assist travelers during this transition period.
Once fully operational, the new system will serve travelers using the multi-level garage with the updated rate structure: free for the first hour, then progressive hourly rates up to the $14.00 daily maximum.
The 60-month service contract extends through 2030, with monthly payments continuing throughout that period. Airport officials expect the license plate recognition technology and improved traffic flow to address the capacity and congestion issues that have generated complaints from the traveling public.
Travelers can find current parking information and alerts at btv.aero.