Exorbitant Parking Fees at UK Airports Hit Motorists Hard
Motorists using major UK airports are facing charges of up to £7 for short stops, with some rates reaching a staggering £1 per minute. Airports such as London Luton, Belfast City, and Newcastle Airport have imposed hefty drop-off charges, while others like London Heathrow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, and Liverpool have increased their tariffs by £1. These soaring costs pose a significant burden for passengers using leading airlines and holiday firms, including TUI, Jet2, Ryanair, and Easyjet.
Key Takeaways:
- London Luton Airport imposes a £5 charge for a five-minute stop, effectively £1 per minute.
- Belfast City Airport charges £4 for a 10-minute stay, one of the highest rates among UK airports.
- Newcastle Airport's charge has escalated from £4 to £5 for the same time frame.
- Airports like London Gatwick, Stansted, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, and Southampton require £7 for the privilege of dropping off passengers.
- Glasgow Airport has increased its fee to £6 for a quarter-hour period.
- London Heathrow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, and Liverpool have all raised their drop-off charges by £1 to £6 for 10-20 minute stays.
- RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis drew attention to the increasing prevalence of barrier-free systems demanding online payment after the fact.
- LeaseLoco CEO John Wilmot called on airports to introduce simple, on-the-spot payment options to avoid confusion and fines.
Statistics:
- Up to £7 for short parking stops at UK airports.
- £1 per minute charge at London Luton Airport for a five-minute stop.
- £4 for a 10-minute stay at Belfast City Airport.
- £7 charge for dropping off passengers at airports like Gatwick, Stansted, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, and Southampton airports.
- 5-10 minute parking charges up to £6 (previously £5) at airports like London Heathrow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, and Liverpool.
Sources:
- Birmingham Live
- RAC
- LeaseLoco