Edinburgh Airport to increase passenger drop-off fees from £6 to £8.50

The price to drop off passengers at Edinburgh Airport is set to increase from £6 to £8.50.

From Monday, May 18, drivers planning to make a ten-minute stay at the dedicated drop-off and pick-up zone right outside the main terminal building will see the charge increase by £2.50.

The airport will also end a 50% price reduction for electric vehicles.

However, the free drop-off and pick-up area – limited to a 30-minute stay – will remain at the long-stay car park, with more spaces set to be added.

A free bus service from the free drop-off area to the terminal is also set to resume.

Airport bosses said the rise in the tariff was “unavoidable” due to a 142% rise – equivalent to £8m – in business rates.

Gordon Dewar, chief executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: “This decision to impose an unplanned and wholly disproportionate £8m rates increase has an immediate and negative impact on our business. We made this clear in correspondence with the Lothians Assessor, who set the increase, and in discussions with the Scottish Government, which has endorsed it.

“A 142% increase reduces our ability to invest, grow and compete. In practical terms, it equates to funding around 200 jobs, two aircraft stands, or five new security lanes. It is not a cost that can be absorbed; it must be covered, and trade-offs like this are unfortunately unavoidable.

“Like many across the hospitality and tourism sectors who have seen business rates soar, we have no choice but to pass part of this cost on to passengers. We had not planned to raise fees this year, but the absence of a transitional relief scheme – equivalent to that available in England and Wales – leaves us with no alternative.”

The airport claims the rise in business rates is the largest increase in costs faced by any airport in the UK.

They have now written to the convenor of the Lothian Valuation Joint Board, which sets non-domestic rates, as well as the First Minister and the public finance minister, to outline their concerns about the current rates process.

Mr Dewar added: “We have always accepted that, given our size, we should pay more, but the scale of this increase is simply unacceptable.

“We have made clear to both the assessor and the Scottish Government that a system which produces such markedly different outcomes for comparable assets operating within the same national economy cannot credibly be described as fair, proportionate or fit for a modern Scotland. This systemic inconsistency lies at the heart of our concern.

“While we welcome the manifesto commitment to review the business rates system, the harm caused by the current framework is already confirmed and must be addressed. We hope a fair and meaningful review can be concluded within this parliamentary term, and we will continue to engage with Ministers, including through early discussions, to help drive that process.”