Edinburgh Airport boss blasted for 'profiteering' over £5 pick-up charges

The comments came as councillors voted for the cost of a taxi pick-up to be passed on to customers.

‘Horrendous’ pick-up fees at Edinburgh Airport will now be paid for by customers rather than taxi drivers after changes to taxi fares were confirmed at a council meeting on Monday.

The move followed a blistering attack by a representative from Central Taxis who labelled the Airport’s decision to charge £5 to pick-up a passenger as “profiteering”.

Jonny Nisbett, who represented Central Taxis at the Regulatory Committee meeting, said the taxi firm viewed the charges as “appalling” and that the Airport’s chief executive Gordon Dewar was driven solely by profit.

Edinburgh Airport's chief executive Gordon Dewar.

Speaking during a deputation to the committee, Mr Nisbett said: “I think most of my taxi clients and I am clear that management in Central Taxis think it is appalling that the Airport think they can act in this manner.

“It is extremely disapointing to see that Edinburgh Airport has decided to charge £5. It is difficult to see that as anything other than profiteering.”

Following a question from the committee, Mr Nisbett added: “The thing that drives Edinburgh Airport and indeed Mr Dewar is profit. If he is able to clothe his profiteering within more moral objectives he is in a good position to do that.

“Do I believe that they [the charges] are about environmental and congestion concerns? Absolutely not.”

Taxi drivers are forced to charge a maximum fare to customers of £2.90 for picking up or dropping off in the Airport which is lower than the actual charge of £5 for picking up from the Airport without a decrement card which provides access to the official taxi rank at a reduced cost.

Chair of the Unite Edinburgh cab branch, Scott Blair, said black cab drivers were in effect “collecting a tax” for the Airport.

He said: “Edinburgh Airport have a history of changing it and we are left out of pocket yet again.

“This is about how much we are going to lose.”

Green councillor Susan Rae branded the charges “horrendous”.

She said: “I find it very difficult to understand that they charge these fees to help the environment. It is a bizarre argument that I really can’t understand.

“The majority of people who have commented on the consultation have said that the £5 charge should not be covered buy the drivers and it is unfair for the workforce to pick up the cost.”

However, following an amendment by Liberal Democrat councillor Neil Ross which was passed six votes to three, the additional cost which was being picked up by taxi drivers - £2.10 - will now be picked up by the customer.

This will mean those taking a taxi from Edinburgh Airport will be forced to pay the full £5 pick-up charge, or less at the discretion of the individual driver.

As well as the changes to the Airport charges, those using taxis in Edinburgh will also have to pay 40 pence more for the standard taxi fare, with base fares rising from £2.60, £3.60 and £4.60 to £3, £4, and £5.

The new fares will come into force on 7 April this year.

An Edinburgh Airport spokesman said: “We’ve been clear on our reasoning and we continue to look at other ways to combat the congestion that we and the taxi trade experience.

“We, like taxi firms, have to make difficult choices to provide a balance between customer experience and investment in facilities. We regret the language that is being used by Central Taxis as it helps no-one involved.”

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