Travellers who leave their cars at the airport will have to pay $5-a-day for the privilege if new legislation is passed.

The Civil Airports Pay-and-Display Parking Amendment could become law as early as April, Transport Minister Ewart Brown said last week.

But bike parking -- both short and long term -- will remain free.

Dr. Brown, who tabled the Amendment in the House of Assembly last week, said each day of parking would cost $5 with coins, debit cards and credit cards accepted. Airport Operations Department terminals manager Mike Osborn said it was anticipated most people would pay with credit or debit cards.

He said if travellers were delayed overseas they would have to pay the extra fees due on their return.

A letter pointing out this was necessary would be left on the windscreen and if the extra fees were not paid within a certain time period a parking ticket would be activated.

And if the traveller came back to Bermuda early they could easily stop unnecessary fees from being deducted off their card by inserting it into one of the parking machines.

He said the rules were similar to the City of Hamilton's pay-and-display system.

Transport Ministry acting administrator Kevin Monkman said short-term parkers dropping off or picking up airline passengers already had to pay $1 per hour.

But there was a two-hour limit. And the new Amendment would simply introduce that same concept for any traveller who planned to leave their car at the airport while away from Bermuda.