Airport boss defends drop off charge
03.07.10
The boss at Edinburgh Airport has defended the decision to introduce a £1 drop-off charge for private cars and taxis, claiming the ‘turbulent commercial world’ has forced the airport to introduce the charge, the Scotsman reports.
From October people driving to the airport to drop off or pick up passengers will be charged a £1 fee for every trip unless they use a free shuttle bus from alongside the Hilton Hotel, which will run passengers to the airport entrance. Writing in The Scotsman managing director of Edinburgh Gordon Dewar Airport denied that the move is ‘profiteering’.
He told the newspaper: ‘It's not profiteering and nor is it opportunistic. It's not monopolistic or mean, as it has been described [by politicians]. Put simply, it is a modest charge that will allow us to continue to invest in our airport and deliver all of the things that our stakeholders, including politicians would like to see. The alternative is less investment or higher costs to airlines.’
Mr Dewar said the need to reduce congestion and carbon emissions was also a factor in the decision. He said: ‘We believe that these steps will change some driving behaviour, making public transport more attractive reducing the number of people using cars and our car parks.’
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