Edinburgh airport has increased its fee for drivers dropping off or picking up passengers to £8.50, a 42 per cent rise from the previous £6 charge. This makes it the equal second-most expensive drop-off fee in the UK, alongside Bristol and behind London Gatwick's £10.
Electric vehicle owners hit hardest
For electric vehicle owners, the increase is even steeper at 183 per cent, as the previous half-price concession has been scrapped. The airport's management cited an extra £8 million business rates bill as the reason for the hike, describing it as the largest increase in costs faced by any UK airport.
Free drop-off area remains
The free drop-off and pick-up area, where passengers can park for up to 30 minutes without charge, will remain in place with additional spaces added. Gordon Dewar, chief executive of Edinburgh airport, stated: "This decision to impose an unplanned and wholly disproportionate £8 million rates increase has an immediate and negative impact on our business. A 142 per cent increase reduces our ability to invest, grow and compete. In practical terms, it equates to funding around 200 jobs, two aircraft stands, or five new security lanes. It is not a cost that can be absorbed; it must be covered and trade-offs like this are unfortunately unavoidable."
Broader context of drop-off fees
Drop-off fees were first introduced after an attempted attack on Glasgow airport in June 2007, when two terrorists tried to drive a Jeep loaded with propane cylinders and petrol into the terminal. Following this, airport forecourts across the UK were reconfigured, and Birmingham airport decided to charge motorists to cover the costs, a practice that quickly spread.
Alternative transport options
Edinburgh airport is served by a tram, but the fare from the city centre jumps from £2.40 to £7.90 for the airport station. The airport's management noted that the business rates increase is affecting the hospitality and tourism sectors broadly, forcing them to pass costs onto passengers.
Most expensive airports for drop-offs
- Gatwick – £10
- Edinburgh and Bristol – £8.50
- London City – £8
- Most other major airports – £7
