Experts said pick-up and drop-off fees at terminals, branded the ‘kiss and fly tax’, are a ‘cash grab’ and a relatively recent phenomenon.
Drop-off charges at airports have been described as excessive
Scotland’s biggest airports are cashing in this summer by charging holidaymakers “outrageous” drop-off parking charges despite already raking in millions of pounds.
Experts have said pick-up and drop-off fees at terminals, branded the “kiss and fly tax”, are a relatively recent phenomenon and are “an easy cash grab” for airports.
Both Edinburgh and Glasgow airports have already raised drop-off charges this year.
Now motorists who use a short-stay zone to drop off or collect loved ones at Edinburgh face having to fork out £6 for just ten minutes while those stopping at Glasgow have 15 minutes.
The price hikes come despite the latest available accounts for Glasgow Airport, which is owned by AGS, showing it made a profit after tax of more than £4.6m.
Front of terminal building at Glasgow Airport(Image: Ross Turpie – Daily Record / Sunday Mail)
Meanwhile Edinburgh, which is jointly owned by VINCI Airports and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) raked in more than £88.2m.
Edinburgh-based consumer and motoring disputes expert Scott Dixon said the fees had become a “lucrative cash cow for airports”.
He said: “Forcing motorists to pay up to £6 to pick up or drop off family and friends is outrageous, especially as the fees seem to rise yearly with no genuine justification.
“It hits families the hardest, particularly in peak summer holiday season, where using public transport isn’t a viable option.
“The fees are generally added to taxi fares, so there’s no easy way to avoid it.”
Edinburgh Airport, Scotland’s busiest, brought in drop-off charges in 2010
Dixon, who runs the Complaints Resolver website, added: “Airports claim it’s about managing congestion and investing in sustainable transport options, but in reality, it’s an easy cash grab that punishes drivers for doing what they did for free until a few years ago.”
Airports began phasing in the charges after the Glasgow Airport terrorist attack in 2007 forced a rethink of drop-off arrangements.
At Edinburgh, Scotland’s largest airport, a £1 drop-off fee was introduced in 2010. But in January the charge had soared to £6 for the first ten minutes and £1-per-minute after that.
Edinburgh Airport drop-off fees start at £6 for ten minutes
In Glasgow, it’s £6 for the first 15 minutes and £1-a-minute after. It marks the third year running the airport has raised the cost.
The cost to park at the airport’s short-stay fee is £8 for 20 minutes, which is 50 pence higher than London Heathrow.
Aberdeen Airport, also run by AGS, has so far kept drop-off fees at £5.50 for the first 15 minutes after raising it in 2024.
However, in April it hiked rates in its short-stay car parks to £7 for the first 20 minutes.
The RAC’s Rod Dennis said: “A further hike in the cost of drop-off parking at Scottish airports will be frustrating to anyone giving a lift to family and friends.“
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Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports said they offered free pick-up and drop-off areas further away from their main terminals.
Edinburgh Airport is also linked to the capital’s tramline. A spokesman said: “We do increase costs when required to allow us to remain competitive… and encourage people to make more sustainable choices, with 42 per cent of our passengers now using public transport.”
Glasgow Airport said: “All of the income generated by the charge is reinvested into the airport.”
Aberdeen International Airport said the increase in its short-stay charge followed a review of parking facilities, adding: “There are no changes to our free drop-off facility… in our long-stay car park.”