Edinburgh Airport is to increase its drop-off and pick-up charge to £8.50 following what it says is a major rise in business rates.
The new levy comes into action next Monday, May 18, and applies to vehicles using the airport’s designated drop-off zone and comes after Edinburgh Airport said it faced an £8 million increase in rates costs.
Airport bosses said the £2.50 rise in the tariff for a 10-minute stay at the dedicated drop-off and pick-up area, right outside the main terminal building, was "unavoidable". Currently, it costs £6. Every minute after the 10 minutes is charged an extra £1.
The airport is also to remove its 50 per cent discount for electric vehicles as part of the changes.
Edinburgh Airport said its business rates bill had risen by 142 per cent, which it claims is the highest increase faced by any airport in Scotland or the UK.
The airport said it is now paying a higher business rates bill than the next three largest ratepayers in the Lothians combined.
According to the airport, the rise is significantly higher than increases imposed on other Scottish airports, with Glasgow Airport seeing a 51.5 per cent rise and Prestwick Airport increasing by 39.1 per cent.
Edinburgh Airport bosses have written to the Convenor of the Lothian Valuation Joint Board, the First Minister and the Public Finance Minister to raise concerns over the rates process.
However, a free drop-off and pick-up area will remain available, offering up to 30 minutes of parking at no charge.
Chief executive Gordon Dewar said: "This decision to impose an unplanned and wholly disproportionate £8 million rates increase has an immediate and negative impact on our business.
"We made this clear in correspondence with the Lothians Assessor, who set the increase, and in discussions with the Scottish Government, which has endorsed it.
"A 142 per cent increase reduces our ability to invest, grow and compete.
"It is not a cost that can be absorbed; it must be covered, and trade-offs like this are unfortunately unavoidable."
Mr Dewar said the lack of a transitional relief scheme in Scotland, similar to those operating in England and Wales, had left the airport with little option but to pass on some costs to passengers.
He added: "Like many across the hospitality and tourism sectors who have seen business rates soar, we have no choice but to pass part of this cost on to passengers.
"We have always accepted that, given our size, we should pay more, but the scale of this increase is simply unacceptable.
"We hope a fair and meaningful review can be concluded within this parliamentary term, and we will continue to engage with Ministers, including through early discussions, to help drive that process."
Edinburgh Airport handled nearly 17 million passengers last year and operates 240 routes to more than 160 destinations.
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