Kiss ’n’ fly fee nets airport £1.3m and may rise in future

On the eve of tomorrow’s first anniversary of the “tax” for dropping off people outside Edinburgh’s terminal, the airport has said 1.2m vehicles had used the new charging zone.

While most have paid the basic £1 charge for ten minutes’ parking, more than 9,000 have shelled out up to £7 for staying up to one hour.

The first-year figures also show more than 100 people paid at least £16 after remaining for more than an hour, when the hourly rate increases from £7 to £9. Some may have been waiting to pick up passengers, which is also permitted in the zone.

On the basis of the limited figures provided by the airport, total income from the charges had reached about £1.296m by Wednesday.

The scheme, which has the makings of a lucrative cash cow for the airport’s owner, last night drew renewed fire from critics who said it had angered passengers and marred the terminal’s reputation.

The airport said the income would be used for “airport investment”, including repaying the £3m cost of creating the new drop-off zone in the multi-storey car park beside the terminal.

A total of 15 per cent of the revenue – around £200,000 so far – will go to an airport fund to help projects benefiting the environment.

Airport chiefs have also admitted the charge may have to be increased in the future because it does not appear to have cut the number of passengers being dropped off by car – one of the objectives of the scheme. However, they said there were no plans for this.

One of the leaders of a Scottish business consortium interested in buying the airport, which owner BAA is selling, admitted that the charge was “annoying”. However, investment banker Ben Thomson said he could also see the merits of the scheme in potentially boosting public transport use.

The airport has hailed the charge as a success in removing congestion outside the terminal, where an estimated 1.6m vehicle movements a year were previously generated by motorists driving round and round waiting for a space at the previous free drop-off zone.

However, despite the provision of a new free drop-off area at the long-stay car park, which has a free bus link to the terminal, this has been used by only around 4,500 drivers – an average of just 12 a day.

Lothians Conservative MSP Gavin Brown, who has campaigned against the charge, said he remained implacably opposed. “The drop-off charge is an unfair, penny-pinching measure that has caused resentment and annoyance. The public justifications given for it were highly questionable,” he said.

“It gives a poor impression of Edinburgh and has succeeded only in uniting people against it. I would urge the airport management to revisit this and take a decision to the scrap the charge as soon as possible.”

Labour transport spokesman Lewis Macdonald said: “Hopefully, whoever buys Edinburgh airport will take the opportunity to look again at this daft idea and scrap it.”

Steve Cardownie, the SNP deputy leader of City of Edinburgh Council, feared the charge will now be increased. He said: “People are just having to accept it because it is the closest point to the terminal.

“I did not think £1 would be prohibitive, but my concern is that now the principle has been established, it will be an easier step to increase the charge.

“I think it will be unlikely the new owners of the airport will review it, because it will be seen as a source of income built into their business plan.”

Edinburgh West Liberal Democrat MP Mike Crockart said the charge should not have been introduced until public transport to the airport was improved – such as the long-delayed tram link.

However, the Edinburgh airport consultative committee gave the scheme a big thumbs up. Chairman Alastair O’Neil said: “The committee feels it has been a huge success. The free drop-off has hardly been used, which I think is indicative of how people appreciate they can now drop off and pick up passengers under cover.”

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, of which the airport is a member, agreed the scheme had been a good move.

Spokesman Graham Bell said: “It is convenient, quick and seems to be working fine, and the charge is minimal. People using it reflect that view.

“The charge is justified in making investment in the airport, and clearly has not deterred the majority of people.”

A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said: “The introduction of new drop-off facilities at Edinburgh airport has achieved what it was designed to.

“It has removed all congestion from our forecourt whilst providing our passengers with a far improved and safer drop-off experience. It also provides us with extra revenue to further invest in our airport.

“We grow and develop Edinburgh airport without subsidy and constantly strive to balance the commercial aspects of our operation with providing passengers with the best experience that we can and our airlines with the best service that we can.”

So far, £50,000 has been paid out by the airport’s environment fund to City of Edinburgh Council to boost the energy efficiency of primary schools near the airport, and to Trees for Scotland for tree planting elsewhere.