Edinburgh Airport drop off fee ‘a tax introduced to boost profits’
16.07.10
Senior Edinburgh airport managers were opposed to the planned £1 passenger drop-off charge, because they feared it would damage the airport's reputation, The Scotsman has reported. The revelation comes as the airports soon to be departing boss issued an open letter to passengers defending the fee.
The Scotsman reports that airport bosses were divided over the controversial plan when it was first discussed last year because of the likely public reaction. Its sources also say the plan was approved in the knowledge that the charge would be too low to deter drivers, and would effectively become a ‘tax’ to boost the airport's flagging retail income.
One of the 'sources' told the Scotsman: 'It was felt it would be difficult to argue for the charge because other Scottish airports were not doing the same, particularly Glasgow, which has also just redeveloped its forecourt and drop-off area without introducing charges. The charge was planned because there was a hole in the retail budget due to a drop in passengers - fewer than forecast were flying and they were spending less.’
The revelations come as a further major blow to the soon to depart airport managing director Gordon Dewar, who issued an open letter to passengers yesterday defending the fee, insisting that customers should make a ‘modest contribution’ in return for tens of millions of pounds of investment.
In the letter he stresses that the charge is for a ‘premium drop-off facility’ and passengers could still be dropped off free further away. He claimed the charge would help reduce ‘kiss and fly’ journeys to and from the airport and encourage more use of public transport, leading to a reduction in emissions, as well as contributing to construction costs.
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