South Dakota’s two main commercial service airports, Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD) and Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) are addressing the increasing demand for parking, driven by record passenger growth.
On September 30, 2024, Sioux Falls Regional Airport opened its newly completed parking garage, adding an additional 950 parking stalls. The $63 million project, which began construction on April 3, 2023, includes a four-tier structure and a skywalk for convenient access to the terminal.
“We have been challenged over the past 5-7 years with providing enough parking during our busy winter season, however with the addition of the parking structure we will meet the needs of our travelers well into the future as well as significantly increase our largest revenue source for the airport. The customer experience will be greatly improved during inclement weather and, so far, has been very well received” said Dan Letellier, Executive Director of Sioux Falls Regional Airport
The Rapid City Regional Airport Board approved an item to allow engineers Mead & Hunt to design a new parking lot, which will add up to 500 additional parking spaces to the existing capacity. The project, estimated to cost $6 million, comes in response to the airport’s consistent increase in passenger enplanements. RAP has regularly experienced occupancy rates exceeding 90% in its commercial terminal parking lot, signaling the need for more parking to meet traveler demand.
“As both Rapid City and Sioux Falls continue to see a rise in passengers, it’s critical that our airports stay ahead of the demand,” said Patrick Dame, Executive Director of Rapid City Regional Airport. “These investments will ensure that both airports can better serve travelers and provide an enhanced level of convenience.”
The improvements in parking facilities are part of broader efforts by both airports to support regional growth and improve services for passengers traveling in and out of South Dakota.
