The final stages of installing a $400,000 automated parking system at Hawke's Bay Airport this week led to some travellers and visitors avoiding charges while barrier arms were up.
It was an unexpected glitch in an otherwise successful installation of the German-built "Designa" parking system which replaces the seven-year-old ticketing system
which airport manager Nigel Sutton said had begun to have some ongoing reliability "issues".
"I don't think we lost too much revenue," Mr Sutton said, explaining that while the final stages of the installation were taking place the barrier arms had to be left up.
Work on installing the new system, which features simplified ticketing machines, started last week but work was delayed a couple of days when the International Parking Systems contractors were called urgently to Christchurch.
Mr Sutton said the system, which features instruction screens on the terminal-housed ticketing machines and is used widely throughout the world, was now "up and running" although a pre-payment facility it housed was still in the process of being installed. It will allow people to apply for a parking card for a specific amount.
The card could then be used directly at the exit point while credit existed - meaning the traveller would not have to queue to pay for their ticket.
It is expected to be finalised and in operation next week.
Mr Sutton said there had been a small increase in all-day and secured area parking charges, although the $2 visitors charge had not increased.
The increases were as the result of accounting for the GST increase introduced last October - which the airport company had decided not to incorporate until the new system was up and running.
