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Edinburgh Airport increases drop-off fees by £1

Getty Images A view of the entrance to Edinburgh Airport. Underneath the name of the airport is a slogan reading Where Scotland Meets The World. As well as the entrance, there are shelters visible, along with a sign saying Assembly Point 1. Getty Images
The charge for drop offs and pick ups will go up by £1 to £6

Edinburgh Airport is to increase pick-up and drop-off charges for passengers in what it says is an attempt to encourage more use of public transport and reduce emissions.

The fares will go up to £6 for the first 10 minutes from 13 January, a £1 increase on the previous rate.

Gail Taylor, the airport's chief commercial officer, said the move would encourage people to make "more sustainable choices" about transport.

Local residents and users of electric cars will qualify for a 50% discount for the first 10 minutes.

'Competitively priced'

The increased charge is still cheaper than most airports in London, Birmingham and Manchester, though more expensive than fees at Liverpool and Glasgow, which are £5 and £5.50 respectively.

A spokesman for the airport said the increase would ensure use of the area was "competitively priced against public transport", which 37% of passengers already use.

He added the airport's "surface access strategy" would aim to increase that number while reducing emissions caused by transport to and from the airport.

Ms Taylor said: "We want to make sure that people are making more sustainable choices when getting to and from the airport.

"The use of cars is the most polluting mode with four journeys for each passenger compared to just two when using public transport. We want more people to use the robust transport links we have as this both reduces emissions and congestion."

She added that funds would be reinvested into the airport.

The RAC last year criticised increases in drop off charges, saying it had become "an annual ritual."

RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis told BBC Scotland News: "Although Edinburgh is better served by public transport than other airports because it has a tram link, this latest price rise will still be frustrating to drivers who have no choice other than to drop-off by car - for instance, those taking passengers with lots of luggage or catching flights at unsocial hours."

A free drop-off and pick-up area will also remain in operation around 10 minutes' walk from the terminal.

The airport was taken over by French company Vinci last year.