MEET AND GREET
Airport pick-up charge could cost you £30... and it’s TWO QUID to drop off
CONTROVERSIAL new charges for motorists dropping off passengers at Glasgow Airport will escalate to £30 within minutes, it has emerged.
Glasgow Airport will introduce a drop-off charging regime for the first time, claiming it needs to reduce congestion and improve the flow of traffic on the airport’s road network.
One MSP has expressed anger over the move, questioning the “accountability” of Glasgow Airport, while motoring groups have also raised concerns.
From April and for a stay of 10 minutes, customers will pay £2, dubbed a ‘kiss and fly tax’ in Edinburgh where it has been in place since 2010.
But if passengers arriving are delayed by as little as 20 minutes after that the cost soars to £30, an increase of 1400%.
The airport said anyone wishing to use the new combined pick-up and drop-off facility for more than 10 minutes should continue to use the short stay car park.
But those caught in the new dedicated new pick-up and drop-off facility for whatever reason will see rapidly escalating costs.
Motorists in the area for between 11 and 15 minutes will face a £4 charge, 16 and 20 minutes will be £6, 21 and 30 minutes is £10 and between 31 and 60 minutes incurs a fee of £30.
The move could also see an increase in taxi fares to and from the airport.
Pauline McNeil, Glasgow Labour MSP, said she was angry the decision had been taken without consulting the public.
She said: “When it comes to the infrastructure around the airport there should be accountability.
“If we can’t trust the airport to be accountable to the public then the government should take control of it.”
RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: “It was probably inevitable that Glasgow would join the growing trend of charging for airport drop-off parking closest to the terminal.
“At £2 for 10 minutes the new fee comes in £1 cheaper than London’s Luton and Stansted, and £1 more expensive than Bristol. Anyone dropping off needs to be very conscious that the fees rapidly escalate to a high of £30 for a stay of over 30 minutes to an hour. Let’s hope these rates stay the same for some considerable time.”
Kevin Delaney, of the Advanced Institute of Motorists, added: “It’s probably inevitable now Aberdeen and Edinburgh will raise their drop-off fees too now.
“Our concern though is people risk putting themselves in danger by attempting to avoid payment, park somewhere nearby and risk walking on roads to the airport which are not designed for pedestrians.”
A new facility is already under construction, with the current pick-up and drop-off areas moving to the ground floor of the new facility, which will be l ocated directly opposite the main terminal building.
There will be no change in the current arrangements for blue badge holders who are entitled to up to 30 minutes free parking in the short stay car park.
The airport will continue to offer a free pick-up and drop-off area which will be located in the long stay car park. Customers can park for free for up to 30 minutes and a shuttle bus, which takes approximately five minutes and runs every 10 minutes, will take customers directly to and from the main terminal building.
Amanda McMillan, managing director at Glasgow Airport, said: “It has been apparent for some time that our current drop-off area, which suffers from severe congestion on a daily basis, is simply no longer fit for purpose.
“It was implemented at a time when we were carrying 6.5 million passengers, however, we have since enjoyed sustained growth and are now fast approaching the 10 million mark.
“It is also the case that people travelling to and from the airport are wholly dependent on road access and the current arrangements are unable to cope with such a large volume of traffic. It is important, therefore, that we have a safe and efficient system in place.”