Manchester Airport to introduce drop-off charges

Manchester Airport is introducing charges for drivers dropping passengers off at all three terminals.

The new arrangements will go live in early June in order to alleviate the congestion which has been developing in recent years because of the high volume of "kiss and fly" and also because of recirculation. At peak times, one in five cars hits the forecourts at least twice.

From June, drivers will be charged an express drop-off fee of £3 for staying up to five minutes or £4 for six to ten minutes. 

Manchester Airport is introducing a new dedicated drop-off site, which will be part of Jet Parks 1 (see map above), from where a free shuttle service will operate to all three terminals.

There will be no change to arrangements for picking passengers up, it will remain £4 for 30 minutes in the multi-storey car park.

Additionally a scheme for people working on site, who aren't provided with a car parking space, will give them free access and there will be a discount scheme for taxis who are regular users of Manchester Airport.

Tricia Williams, Chief Operating Officer for Manchester Airport, said: "Manchester Airport has seen a significant increase in passenger volumes over the past five years and is making a major investment in driving further growth and improvements to the customer experience.

"As passenger numbers have grown, we have increasingly experienced major congestion problems on our terminal forecourts, exacerbated by a high percentage of visitors repeatedly recirculating at peak times.

"This is despite efforts in recent years to increase capacity as much as possible in these highly constrained parts of our site.

"It is clear as we continue to grow that we need to take a more proactive approach to managing this congestion, which has a knock-on effect on the wider airport estate and a significant impact on our operations and customer service levels.

"The simple fact is our forecourts were not designed to handle the number of vehicles they do today and do not have the capacity to cope with any further growth in the number of people being dropped-off immediately outside our terminals.

"That is why we are investing in a dedicated drop-off site, from where a free shuttle service will operate to all three terminals. It is hoped this will contribute to a major reduction in the number of individual vehicles trying to access the most congested parts of our campus.

"In parallel, an Express Drop-off charge will be introduced in the areas directly outside our three terminals and Ground Transport Interchange, similar to those introduced at most UK airports in recent years.

"We have been working with our Passenger User Group on these plans in recent months, as well as engaging with a wide range of stakeholders in the community and wider region. This has enabled us to respond to their concerns and feedback wherever possible.

"As part of our efforts to reduce on-site congestion, we are also creating a brand new Public Transport Development Fund, overseen by newly-formed body made up of representatives from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Cheshire East Council and Transport for Greater Manchester.

"It will work to identify and support initiatives that will improve access to Manchester Airport for passengers and colleagues."

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Manchester Airport
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Peter Bugler
Saturday 24th March 2018 at 9:08 am
Another airport rip off!
Harry Martin
Tuesday 27th March 2018 at 2:29 pm
My wife drops my son off maybe 7 or 8 times a year at T1 . Neither of us has encountered problems . Simply open the car door and him and luggage swiftly dropped off = 3 mins max . I cannot see what all the fuss is about as it seems to be ideal the way it is running now .Charging this silly amount of money is crazy . I can see people dropping passengers off further down the road which could be dangerous . These for many are pleasant times as most are going on holiday .
Steven Mccrory
Tuesday 27th March 2018 at 2:35 pm
Currently the WORSE and Most Expensive Poorly managed Airport in the UK, all about Max profit and GREED, They chose to shut 2 viable drop of lanes after the Glasgow incident, instead of putting concrete bollards with odd gaps for people to take their case through, they concrete both the access to the lanes! Hence the back up, they then change T1 drop off and pick up, pick up to make more money..the T1 drop off a farce! Better as it was, they now close T2 drop off due to the rebuild...and come up with this new rip off CONGESTION FEE! EVERY PENNY TAKEN FROM THE TRAVELLER...SHOULD BE CALLED DICK TURPIN AIRPORT. I HOPE YOU ALL COMPLAIN! Or put up with now even more holiday travel EXTORTION, C O M P L A I N...PLEASE
Mike Davies
Tuesday 27th March 2018 at 3:04 pm
This is yet another terrible move by Manchester Airport. It will make their reputation, which is currently rock bottom, go even further down. Surely they want to increase business not drive it away? All other major airports allow “kiss and fly”. There are cheaper and easier ways to help passengers, some suggested above. Why rip us off yet again? I might as well drive to Liverpool. At least I get better service there.
Malcolm Elliott
Tuesday 27th March 2018 at 6:21 pm
Whoa Whoa .......easy folks.....you aint seen nuthin yet.
Just wait until they paint double RED lines on every road ,alley and nook and cranny within a mile radius of the airport patrolled by photo vans copping you should you stop or hesitate
for a microsecond. You then get a big fat fine by post.
Ian Cook
Tuesday 27th March 2018 at 6:38 pm
Let's take this onto a wider market, submit a review on trip advisor, they would really appreciate the support when it comes to voting them the worst airport in the UK in the annual travel awards.....