by Marcus Washington
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Company officials with off-site airport shuttle services went to the Metro Nashville Airport Authority regarding the recent increases.
The business owners were told the cost for them to travel to the airport would increase more than 200 percent.
"You have two potential revenue sources that are about equal. Why did one of those revenue sources, did we push back 80% and push the other one up 271%," asked David Hornsby with Executive Travel and Parking.
Hornsby was just one of many business owners who were shocked and upset when off-site airport shuttle services were told the fee per visit to the airport was going up.
Starting in March, hotels shuttling travelers went from $1.25 to just 25-cents per visit.
For off-site shuttle service companies- their fee went from $1.75 to $6.50.
"In the past 20 months our company has received two price increases that will raise my fees to the airport from $450 a month to about $12,000 per month. That's a 2,700% increase in 20 months," said Hornsby.
The increase for the off-site shuttle service companies would more than likely get passed down to customers.
Hornsby spoke on behalf of the other business owners on Wednesday and asked the Metro Nashville Airport Authority to step in and make things fair.
"If we're charged the exact same user fee and we make the trip exactly 10 times more, we will pay exactly 10 times more. We would be paying a great deal more, but it would be fair," said Hornsby.
MNAA Chairman James Cheek said, "I think the best way to move forward here is for me to request that the board appoint a working sub-committee composed of the officers of the board."
"Yes think this was more than fair. I think they are at least willing to look at this and sit down and meet with us. Whether the results will be more than fair, that is yet to be seen," said J.R. Fraley, owner of Fly Away Airport Parking Services.
Business owners asked the Metro Nashville Airport Authority to look at reducing the increase that went into effect last Friday while they form a committee and discuss options. That request was denied.
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