The profits are in the parking at the MacDonald-Cartier International Airport, which has doubled its parking revenues in the past decade.

The 2011 revenue will be released Monday as part of the Ottawa Airport Authority's annual report. In 2010, the airport made $11.3 million from parking — about 10 per cent of the airport's total earnings. That compares to $5.3 million in 2002.

"Candidly, the parking lot generates a million dollars a month," said Paul Benoit, president of the airport authority.

There is an argument among local transportation advocates against parking profits. Some believe they are preventing the extension of light rail to the airport.

David Jeanes argued it would only be six more minutes on the O-Train from the current final stop at Greenboro Station.

"Airports make so much money, they're not really interested in promoting good public transit," Jeanes alleged. "It's a shame."

Airport parking expanded

The parking lot expanded in May by adding 850 more spaces and it collected a record amount in 2011.

Some public transit advocates believe parking revenue is preventing a light rail extension to the airport. (CBC)

The airport does not deny the importance of parking revenues, but Benoit insisted it would welcome an O-Train link.

"Our position has been and will continue to be, build it and we will accommodate it," he said.

The O-Train extension south is feasible, the city determined in March, but there is no room in the budget for the $70 million cost.