Bob Hope Airport's new parking structure, meant to replace the 1,000-plus parking spaces lost as the airport builds a new transportation center, opened earlier this month.
The structure is being used exclusively by the airport's valet parking service for now, said Dan Feger, the airport's executive director, during an airport authority meeting on Monday.
"They are now keeping cars closer to the drop-off point, and it actually helps them deliver cars faster. That's what the customer will see," he said.
The surface-lot spaces that were formerly used by the valet operator are not yet being opened to self-parking, however.
The replacement parking structure is the first completed piece of the airport's new $112-million transportation center, which also includes a consolidated car rental facility that is now about 60% complete, Feger said.
The parking structure, which has 1,043 spaces, wrapped up on schedule and within budget, Feger said, adding that at $8.4 million, it was a bargain for the airport.
