Edinburgh Airport blames soaring business rates for huge drop-off fee hike

Business & FinanceTravel
19 May 2026 • 3:56 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Edinburgh Airport blames soaring business rates for huge drop-off fee hike

  • Edinburgh Airport has increased its passenger drop-off and pick-up fee by 42 per cent, from £6 to £8.50.
  • This rise makes it one of the most expensive drop-off charges in the UK, though still less than London Gatwick and London Stansted.
  • The airport attributes the increase to an "unplanned and wholly disproportionate" £8 million business rates bill recently imposed.
  • Electric vehicle owners face an even steeper 183 per cent increase as their previous half-price concession has been removed.
  • A free drop-off and pick-up area, allowing up to 30 minutes of parking, will remain available with additional spaces.

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