Waco Airport Considers Gate Arms to Address Parking Fee Evasion

Nearly a third of travelers have not paid the $5.75 daily fee since it was implemented 6 months ago.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:05pm

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The Waco Regional Airport is considering installing gate arms and ticket machines to control access to its public parking lots, after finding that around 30% of travelers have been using the lots without paying the $5.75 daily parking fee that was implemented 6 months ago.

Why it matters

Unpaid parking fees represent a significant revenue loss for the airport, which relies on that income to maintain and improve its facilities. Implementing gate arms could help ensure all travelers pay their fair share, but may also create inconvenience and frustration for some customers.

The details

The $5.75 daily parking fee was introduced at Waco Regional Airport 6 months ago, but airport officials report that nearly a third of travelers have been using the lots without paying. To address this issue, the airport is now considering installing gate arms and ticket machines to control access and ensure all users pay the required fee.

  • The $5.75 daily parking fee was implemented at Waco Regional Airport 6 months ago.
  • Airport officials have found that around 30% of travelers have been using the lots without paying the fee since it was introduced.

The players

Waco Regional Airport

A public airport serving the Waco, Texas metropolitan area.

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What’s next

The airport is currently evaluating options and costs for installing gate arms and ticket machines to control access to the public parking lots.

The takeaway

The high rate of parking fee evasion at Waco Regional Airport highlights the challenge of enforcing paid parking, and the airport's consideration of gate arms demonstrates the need to find a balance between revenue collection and customer convenience.