EDINBURGH Airport has introduced changes to the price of picking up and dropping off passengers, raising the cost from £5 to £6.
The move is in an attempt to encourage more people to use public transport when travelling to and from the airport.
The increased charge will be put in place from 13 January, and will be set at £6 for the first ten minutes, and then an additional £1 for each minute after that.
They state that 37% of passengers already use public transport to or from the airport, but it’s hoped the new increase will raise that number and potentially reduce emissions.
The revenue raised from the change is said to be going towards improving passenger experience and investing in the infrastructure of the airport.
Although the airport is raising this charge, they still allow local residents and users of electric cars to qualify for a 50% discount on their first ten minutes in the area, and cars with blue badges can park for one hour for free.
Gail Taylor, chief commercial officer (XAero) at Edinburgh Airport said: “We have just had a record year for passengers at Edinburgh Airport and that number is likely to grow year-on-year, and we want to make sure that people are making more sustainable choices when getting to and from the airport.
“The use of cars is the most polluting mode with four journeys for each passenger compared to just two when using public transport.
“We want more people to use the robust transport links we have as this both reduces emissions and congestion.
“We have a number of large capacity projects planned over the next few years and reinvestment back into the airport infrastructure will improve the overall experience for passengers.”
The charge was last increased from £4 to £5 in 2023, whilst Glasgow and Aberdeen airports are maintaining their drop-off fees at £5.50 for 15 minutes.
