Edinburgh Airport doubles its drop-off charges

Drop-off charges at Edinburgh Airport are to double in a move management say will tackle congestion.

The charge for 0-5 minutes will increase from £1 to £2 from Thursday November 8 and is expected to reduce the number of cars using the current access road by 480,000 in 2019.

Edinburgh Airport is working with City of Edinburgh Council on a long-term solution to growing congestion problems on Eastfield Road by proposing to build a new access road to the airport.

Research from the airport shows Eastfield Road is already operating at capacity with forecasters estimating by the summer peak in 2019, the route will be at 121% capacity.

Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar said he appreciated the increase will not be welcome news for all but he hopes “most will realise the need for action to combat the congestion we currently experience”.

The airport anticipates funding the majority of what is expected to be a £10 million project itself, with additional revenue from the drop off increase contributing to the funding.

Analysis by the airport found cars using the drop off account for 20% of passengers, but generate 33% of the traffic to the airport.

The current one hour free for blue badge holders will remain across the airport.