b'26 SAT PARKINGpush notifications. The strategy is to entice travelers who might otherwise choose to get dropped off by a taxi, rideshare service or private vehicle to drive themselves and park at the airport instead.An additional advantage of the Vision system is the vast amount of data it collects about customers, including postal ZIP codes. Im getting metrics in real time that are valuable in our marketing efforts, says Mills Pysher. We can look at average transaction values, slice the data by different periods of time, and know where our customers are originating from.Early analysis of the data shows the systems reservation capabilities have helped improve revenue per passenger by about 91 cents, she adds. Rocha notes that Metropolis AeroParker software platform has a strong track record of enhancing parking revenues at A press conference helped promoteleading domestic and international airports. The revenue the new system to customers.growth potential at each airport is influenced by its unique competitive landscape, including on- and off-site capacity, he The company was founded in 2017 and has become thesays. At SAT, optimizing pricing strategies based on supply largest garage network operator in the United States throughand demand dynamics will be essential in driving parking a handful of acquisitions, he adds. Its technology is in use orrevenue.being implemented at about 4,200 locations across North America. SAT was the first airport in the world to implement theAccording to Rocha, customer response to the new app has Vision system, and six others have since added it.been positive, though some travelers say they prefer pulling a paper ticket and paying an employee. Although SAT has Cameras at the entrances of SATs parking lots photographremoved all of its ticket dispensers, customers can still pay each vehicle, including their license plates. Customers do nottheir parking fees to a cashier.need to pull a ticket when entering or pay with a credit card when exiting.The airport also recently evolved its parking program for disabled veterans and customers with special military license Prominent signage throughout each garage and surfaceplates. Previously, SAT offered such guests free parking in all lot notifies customers about the tech-forward parking systemlots and garages, at a cost of $11 million in fiscal year 2025. and encourages them to use a smartphone to scan a QRIn response to an FAA audit, the airport was required to code that directs them to a registration website wheremodify this program to ensure its cost was de minimis, or, in they provide payment information. When customers exit,essence, small enough to be insignificant. Metropolis engineered cameras record their vehicle information and match it witha web-app that allows SAT to offer disabled veterans and registration information on file. The corresponding customercustomers with special military license plates up to 30 days is automatically charged, the gate lifts to allow exit, andof free parking in economy lots, and discounted parking in notification of payment is sent immediately to the personsgarages. Additionally, the new system allows the airport to offer phone. Transaction fees collected by Metropolis range from reservations in all of its facilities as well as provide automated 99 cents (for customers parking less than three hours) validations, which reduced transaction times from four minutes to $3.99 (for those using valet services). to two seconds. This greatly improved the customer experience Registration is required only once and takes less thanfor qualified service members, says Mills Pysher. one minute, Rocha notes. On subsequent visits, the systemThe new iteration launched on Nov. 1, 2025, and SAT had automatically recognizes registered vehicles.received more than 17,500 applications for the program by late December. Customers are extremely happy with the changes New Features, New Profit Potential to the program and the level of customer service they are Previously, customers could not reserve parking at SAT. Withreceiving with the new technology, reports Mills Pysher.the Metropolis system, travelers can have peace of mind that a space will be available on their departure day. For her, the beauty of the airports high-tech parking system is that artificial intelligence continues to learn over time, From the airports perspective, the ability to adjust pricingmeaning its capabilities have already increased and become based on usage analytics is a valuable new feature. If parkingeven more accurate with each passing day. is in high demand, SAT can charge full rates in lots and garages. Conversely, when fewer travelers are parking, theMove fast and break things, Mark Zuckerbergs motto from airport can promote lower rates on its website and throughthe early days of Facebook, doesnt seem to apply at SAT. Move fast and solve challenges seems more apropos. January | February 2026AirportImprovement.com'