A free bus service that took students to area airports during holiday breaks will now cost $5.

The SA plans to charge for Colonial Coach, a transportation service to Dulles International and Baltimore/Washington International airports for Thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks in order to defray the costs of the two-year-old program, SA President Nicole Capp said.

“The $5 charge covers more than 75 percent of the operating costs and allowed the SA to slash the executive budget by about 30 percent – nearly $10,000 – which allows for more money for student organization events and programming,” said Capp, a junior.

In the past, Capp said, nearly half of the executive budget funds were used to finance the program, which is utilized by only 4 percent of the student body.

“While I am SA president, we will not waste student money like in years past,” Capp said.

Even with the fee, Colonial Coach is still a cheaper alternative than taking a cab to either airport. A taxi to Dulles is more than $50, while a taxi fare to BWI costs more than $70 without tip.

Taking the Metro to Dulles is less costly than the $5 Colonial Coach fee. Students that ride the Metro to the Rosslyn station for $1.35 and take the 5A express bus to Dulles Airport for $3 will spend a total of $4.35 on transportation costs.

“It’s less advantageous,” said senior Erica Evans. “It would cost more than mass transit anyway.”

Junior Eric Struenig said he does not have a problem with the newly instated fare.

“Lunch costs more than five dollars,” Struenig said.

During the Thanksgiving holiday, Colonial Coach will run from noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20 and from 7 to 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 21.