AIRPORT AILMENTS
CABBIES HIT OUT AT SOUTHAMPTON AIRPORT FOR INCREASING IT’S DROP- OFF CHARGE YET AGAIN!
Southampton Airport has raised the price to pick-up and drop-off a passenger at its short stay parking facility from £6 to £7 for 20 minutes. Adrian Bridge of Paragon Taxis has been a hackney cab driver for 40 years, he said: “We have to pass these charges on every time to the customer. I have a lot of international customers who are disgusted to see how much you have to pay just to drop people off. “We have no control over it, they just seem to be increasing the price every year. I think it’s an unfair charge. “We are bringing their customers
to them, and we are having to pass on this charge.” Adrian says that whilst he can drop some passengers off nearby, for example, next to the train station, for elderly and disabled customers, this is not an option. Meanwhile, Chair of the
Southampton Hackney & PH Association, Ian Hall pictured, who has been a licensed driver since 1981 said: “It is atrocious, absolutely atrocious. Southampton airport is very expensive. The charge will be passed on to the customers.” A spokesperson for Southampton Airport said: “It’s important to note that blue badge holders are entitled to a free 30-minute stay in clearly marked spaces within the short stay car park. “All of the funds generated through our parking facility are reinvested into the airport and play an important role in securing new routes for the region.”
A Manchester taxi driver is raising awareness about a new barrierless £5
TAXI DRIVER WARNS OF SNEAKY NEW £5 DROP-OFF CHARGE AT MANCHESTER AIRPORT remotely by
midnight the
charge for dropping off passengers at Manchester Airport, warning that unclear signage could lead to hefty fines. Mike, a local cabbie, took to TikTok to alert drivers and those dropping off family and friends to the new system. Previously, drivers would pay the £5 fee at a barrier upon exiting the drop-off zones. However, Mike explained in his video that “the barriers have been taken away and it’s now done through ANPR,” meaning drivers can now drive straight through. He claimed that “the signs are there,” but they are “not that clear,” often positioned “on the side” rather than directly in view upon exit. Failure to pay the £5 charge
10
following day incurs a £100 fine, reduced to £60 if paid in 14 days. Mike advised: “I think it’s challengeable with those signs but just to let you know it’s easy just to go online and pay it straight away.” Manchester Airport stated on its website: “The barrierless system will streamline the drop-off and pick-up process, making it quicker, more convenient, and stress-free. “You will no longer need to stop at a barrier. Instead, you can drive straight through a Drop Off or Pick Up area and pay your charges remotely.” However, Mike’s warning has resonated with some who have already been caught out. One TikTok user commented: “£100 I’ve just been done with it!! I had
absolutely no idea about this new scheme... 4am dropping off how the h**l am I gunna read these signs especially when I know nothing about it. I’ve challenged [it].” Another added: “Dropped some- one off yesterday and just thought the barriers were broken! Thanks for the video, paid with 90 mins to spare.”
While one commenter disputed Mike’s claim about the sign placement at Terminal 3, others echoed his sentiment about the system being “sneaky.” An airport spokesperson defended the changes, saying: “Removing barriers in our drop-off and pick-up areas speeds up the process and stops people from going into more expensive pay brackets while they wait at the barriers.”
JUNE 2025 PHTM
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