As holiday season is in full swing, taxi drivers should be aware of all UK airport drop off charges. With Brits set to spend over £80bn on family holidays this year, there has never been a better time to acquaint yourself with these sometimes surprising additional costs.

As one of the largest, specialist taxi insurance providers in the UK, Acorn has been supplying the public and private hire taxi drivers since our foundation in 1982. Whether annual, short-term, or fleet insurance, we have the cover required to suit your needs. As taxi insurance providers for over 40 years, Acorn Insurance wants their customers to be aware of UK airport drop off charges, and the impact they could have on their overall finances.

 

How airports justify UK airport drop off charges

Firstly, airports justify the charges as part of the recently updated surface-access and sustainability plans. With one of the main sources of airport-related emissions being passenger journeys to and from airports, the scheme aims to prevent car-led retrieval and reduce airport-related traffic. Secondly, airports believe the charges are further justified by several other concerns:

• Accessibility: considering a potential lack of public transport and considerable luggage to carry, airports believe customers are willing to pay additional costs for easy airport access.
• Necessity: there is a greater concentration of airport traffic at peak times with rates that reflect this. Taxi drivers can expect to pay more during the summer holiday spike of June to September than during the quieter November to March lull in holiday demand.
• Upkeep: this includes a variety of costs from the initial outlay for construction and land, to everyday expenses such as staff salaries, necessary equipment, and general airport maintenance.

Our top 5 UK airport drop off charges summary

At Acorn we understand the challenges taxi drivers can face, and our team of highly experienced insurance experts are here to help. Furthermore, we know airport drop off charges can add up, and as a taxi driver, you need to be aware of any additional costs you experience. From a Manchester Terminal 2 drop off to a Birmingham Terminal 1 pick-up, check out our handy guide to UK airport drop off charges and how they could affect your earnings. *

Manchester Airport

Manchester Airport, located within a 20-minute drive from central Manchester, is the main international gateway for the north of England and is the largest regional airport in the UK. Every year Manchester handles approximately 19 million passengers, using over 60 airlines flying direct to around 200 destinations. Manchester also employs directly on-site around 19,000 people.

Drop off directly outside the terminals and train station payable at the exit barrier is:

• £5 for 5 minutes drop off
• £6 for 10 minutes drop off
• £25.00 will apply after 10 minutes drop off
• Free forecourt access for blue badge holders for drop-off only
• £6 up to 30 minutes multi-storey pick up

Edinburgh Airport

Edinburgh Airport, was the busiest airport in Scotland in 2019, handling over 14.7 million passengers. It was also the sixth-busiest airport in the United Kingdom by total passengers in 2019. The airport, which opened in 1977, currently serves about 24,600 passengers on an average day.

Payment methods include coin, card, contactless and mobile payments. There is a change machine in the drop-off area for those with notes requiring change. Drop off charges are:

• 0-10 mins – £4.00
• 10-15 mins – £8.00
• 15 mins – 30 mins £15.00
• 30 mins – 1 hour £30.00

Birmingham Airport

Birmingham Airport is located about 8 miles from the city centre and is now seeing between 8,000 and 10,000 people per day passing through its terminals, compared to 1,600 a day in May 2021. A total of 2.5 million passengers boarded or got off domestic or international flights at Birmingham airport last year.

All car parks are within 10 minutes of the check-in desks. Drop off charges are:

• 0-15 mins – £3.00
• 15-20 mins – £8.00
• 20-25 mins – £13.00
• 25-30 mins – £18.00
• 30-35 mins – £23.00

Bristol Airport

Bristol Airport is the ninth busiest airport in the UK. Passenger numbers are now around 94% of where they were in 2019, a higher rate than any other UK airport, with up to 30,000 passengers passing through the terminal in a single day. Bristol Airport anticipates over 900,000 passengers total to travel through the airport for the month of August 2022.

Their “Drop and Go” car park uses the latest in automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) ticketless technology. Prices for a short stay drop off include:

• Up to 10 min- £5.00
• 10 to 20 min – £7.00
• 20 to 40 mins – £10.00
• 40 to 60 mins – £20.00
• Additional hour/ partial hour – £20.00

Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Originally called Speke Airport, Liverpool John Lennon Airport is an international airport on the River Mersey approximately 6 miles from the city centre. Since the lifting of international travel restrictions, almost 320,000 passengers used the airport in April, the highest monthly figures since the start of the pandemic. The “Express Drop Off and Pick Up Car Park” is ideal for taxi drivers, close to the terminal building. Be aware, however, that John Lennon Airport’s express barriers are all card payments only.

• 10 mins – £4.00
• 20 mins – £10.00
• 1 Hour – £25.00
• 24 Hours – £50.00
• Every 24 Hours thereafter (or part thereof) £50.00
• Blue Badge can reclaim up to 40 minutes of free parking 

*All costs correct at time of writing

Plane and simple insurance, no baggage!

With over 40 years of experience in the taxi insurance industry, we assess customers’ individual needs and provide specialist, flexible cover. We will consider all drivers, even with past convictions or points on their licence. Click Get a Quote for a no-obligation online quotation today!

This article includes links to third party websites and apps included solely for information purposes, there is no implied endorsement of using these resources. Clicking on links, visiting third-party websites, or downloading apps may allow third parties to collect or share data about you that is out of our control. When you leave our website, we encourage you to read the privacy notice of every website you visit. We are not responsible for the availability, content, accuracy, completeness, or security of such resources. We will not be liable for direct or indirect damages arising out of or in connection with the use of websites or apps.