After a record number of passengers flew out of Logan International Airport last year, the airport has become a victim of its own success, struggling to find parking spaces for travelers' cars with little relief in sight.
Yesterday, the Massachusetts Port Authority diverted at least 1,500 cars to Suffolk Downs after Logan's 16,200 parking spots filled up, offering passengers free parking and shuttle service to Logan.
"We're out of options," Massport Director of Aviation Ed Freni said. "We are paying for the transportation back and forth. It's a considerable amount of money."
The diversions came after Massport used valets to cram about 2,000 cars into any available space at Logan, but no more cars could be squeezed in yesterday. The agency turned to the valet service during 40 weeks last year, Freni said.
Freni said back-to-back school vacation weeks in Massachusetts and New Hampshire brought about yesterday's crisis, but he said there is simply not enough parking for the rising number of passengers.
Use of the overflow lots is expected to continue during high- volume periods, such as the upcoming April vacation week, he said.
Part of the problem, Freni said, is travelers have not been willing to take alternate modes of transportation. Two weeks ago, Massport announced a discount for its Logan Express parking lots, and in 2012 it made Silver Line access free from Logan to South Station.
"People still continue to want to park close to the terminals," Freni said.
Last year, Logan saw more than 30 million passengers, and Freni said they could "possibly break 31 million in 2014."
"It's been progressing over the years," he said.
The increase in passengers is largely due to more international travelers. New flights to Tokyo and Panama City have driven up the number of international passengers, and more flights are coming soon. In March, Emirates Air will begin service, and Turkish Airlines will begin flying here in May. Within 10 years, Logan could be handling 40 million passengers a year, Freni said.
Massport spokesman Matthew Brelis said cars may be diverted to overflow lots at Suffolk Downs again today. Yesterday, officials said cars would be diverted until 4 p.m., but it continued until 6 p.m.
Massport is developing a "strategic plan" to help with the overflow, including adding 2,000 new spots to eliminate the valet parking. The plan is still in its initial phase, Freni said.
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