Scotland’s busiest airport has hiked prices, blaming a huge rates increase and the lack of support from the Scottish Government
Edinburgh Airport is hiking its drop-off prices(Image: Emily Macinnes/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Bosses at Edinburgh Airport have sparked outrage among passengers after hiking drop-off prices. The travel hub confirmed on Monday that it would now cost £8.50 just to take friends and family to the terminal.
That works out at a huge 40% increase on the £6 it was previously. It allows drivers just 10 minutes to drop off or pick up from the designated zone right outside the main building.
The airport said it made the move after being hammered with an £8 million increase in business rates thanks to the Scottish Government. But it will be hard-up passengers who pay the price, especially those struggling to access alternative transport options.
Anyone going over the 10 minutes will be charged £1 per minute. Edinburgh does have a free parking option for 30 minutes at the long-stay car park.
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Travellers can actually book a seven-day stay at the airport using the remote budget airport, which is a 10 minute drive to the terminal, for as little as £23.99 – the equivalent of around 30 minutes at the drop-off point.
Edinburgh had only increased the cost to £6 last year before this new rise. But how does Scotland’s busiest airport compare to others in the UK?
Glasgow Airport is the second busiest in Scotland(Image: getty)
Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness
Scotland’s two other main airports also hiked their charges earlier this year. Operated by AGS Airports, the facilities increased their prices to £7 for a 15-minute stay in February. It had cost £6 at Glasgow and £5.50 at Aberdeen previously.
AGS said at the time: “It is important to keep in mind that there is always a free alternative where customers can park for up to one hour. These are located in our long stay car parks, and passengers can use a free, on-demand shuttle service to and from the terminal.”
At Glasgow and Aberdeen, the long-stay car park allows stays of an hour before a fee kicks in. Scotland’s fourth busiest airport, Inverness, still offers 15 minutes for free in its drop-off area, after which standard charges apply.
Manchester and Newcastle
Manchester and Newcastle are also popular airports for Scottish travellers, although most would liklely travel by public transport or book car parking. If you are getting dropped off at Manchster, the busiest British airport outside of London, it costs £5 for five minutes or £6.40 for up to 10 minutes. Stay any longer though, and it will set you back £25. The free option is around a five-minute shuttle bus from the terminal.
Newcastle charges £6 for 10 minutes although there is a short stay option of £4 for 15 minutes.
Birmingham and Bristol
The two airports after Edinburgh in the list of the UK’s busiest have very different attitudes to drop-off prices. At Bristol, it will cost £8.50 for just 10 minutes, after which you’ll need to head for the short-stay car park. Birmingham, however, still has a free drop-off point around five minutes from the terminal although a ‘premium’ drop-off area right outside is available for £6 for 15 minutes.
London
Four of the five busiest airports in the UK serve London. At Heathrow, a £7 charge is applied to any vehicle entering the drop-off area with maximum stay of 10 minutes.
Visitors to Gatwick face a £10 charge for just 10 minutes, with a £1 additional charge up to 20 minutes. Stansted Airport also charges £10, albeit for 15 minutes, with a maximum stay of 30 minutes costing £28. At London Luton, The Drop Off Charge is £7 for 10 minutes and £1 thereafter.