Long stay, short stay & meet and greet parking information
Drop Off Charges
The Issue
- Photo: Mick Garratt
There has been huge criticism surrounding the £1 drop off charge introduced by Belfast International Airport on 7th July 2010.
What’s it all about?
In order to adhere to UK government airport guidelines, Belfast International Airport has undertaken significant renovation to the drop off area outside the terminal building.
Changes in the guidelines are a result of the attempted terrorist attack on Glasgow Airport in 2007, when a car containing gas cylinders was driven into the front of the terminal building.
At Belfast International Airport changes have been put in place to increase the distance between the terminal and the drop off zones. The new area has been doubled to incorporate a further lane, four rows of spaces, a longer kerb length and larger bays for passengers with mobility problems.
The Airport’s official website says the changes will “reduce congestion and improve traffic flow” however, the general public and local councils are angered by the costs shouldered by the general public. Belfast International Airport is expected to make £2 million in revenue from the new system.
Why all the fuss?
First and foremost people resent the fare, many claiming the airport is charging for a basic public service.
Reports by the BBC stating Belfast International Airport published profits of over £10.5 million in 2008 has further angered their critics.
Jonathan Bell MLA DUP, a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly’s environmental committee has begun investigations into the new charges on the grounds they are discriminatory to the elderly, disabled and young children.
Since the charges have begun many have reported problems with signposting at the airport. People aiming to park in short stay areas have found themselves accidentally entering the drop off zone and forced to pay charges.
Airport taxi companies may also be forced to increase their fares as a result of the new charges.
What are the alternatives?
The airport has dropped the charges in short stay car parks. Customers can now park for up to an hour for £1. According to a WHICH? survey of airport parking in May 2010, Belfast International Airport provided the cheapest service out of the15 busiest airports in the UK.
A free drop off zone remains operational at the long stay car park, a short walk from the terminal building. Customers are allowed a 10 minute grace period at this area.
What next?
The main concern is people who try to avoid the drop off areas may decide to park illegally or away from the airport, causing congestion on approach roads.
Alternatively, with many customers opting to use the short stay facility, the terminal building itself could become extremely busy creating security risks: the very problem they aimed to combat.
Have your say…
What do you think of the changes? Is it a necessary precaution? What problems have you encountered? Where would you like to see the profits invested?
| Print article | This entry was posted by John on September 23, 2010 at 10:24 am, and is filed under News. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
about 2 years ago
Pay the £1 and move on, all these people parked along the sides of the roads on the way to the airport over the sake of a £1 coin is childish. The very same people don’t think twice about spending £3+ on a drink on a night out or £5+ on 20 fags
about 2 years ago
in view of the weather in NI i certainly would not want my family to walk from the road with suit cases in bad weather just to save a £1.00, now that the short stay has dropped the price to £1.00 i would use that instead as long as there is plenty of disabled parking close by ,and ppl without a blue disk displayed in disabled parking spaces should be clamped
about 2 years ago
THe extra security is useless, this is a ploy to rob you of money. if a terrorist wanted to attack the airport they will not drive up to the front door. This is just another way for the airport to rob you blind.
about 2 years ago
I agree that it should be paid, rather than stopping out on the main road. At the same time, I think it’s a bad idea and it is not needed. If it was a necessity , then you’d see every airport with a sign explaining a similar charge. Some airports may use those charges, but others (including the City Airport) rightfully don’t.
When the news about this charge was released, one of BIA’s excuses for it was that bomb in Glasgow. That was three years ago, so it is not a rushed out scheme as a result of that. It is actually a scheme that lines their own pockets. Nothing else.
about 2 years ago
AirportForums.co.uk has more discussion of Belfast drop off charges:
http://www.airportforums.co.uk/topic/belfast-international-airport-drop-off-charges
about 2 years ago
I am a weekday commuter from Bristol to Belfast International and we have a similar system but the may difference is that it does not cost us for the first 10 mins it is free.