Major Scottish Airports Implement Controversial £7 Drop-Off Charge
Two of Scotland's busiest airports have introduced significant price increases for passenger drop-offs, sparking criticism from industry leaders and concern among travellers. From Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026, both Glasgow Airport and Aberdeen Airport have raised their drop-off charges to £7 for just 15 minutes of use.
Sharp Increase Draws Industry Criticism
Clive Wratten, chief executive of the Business Travel Association (BTA), has described the rise at Aberdeen Airport as particularly excessive and unjustified. "The 27 per cent increase in Aberdeen Airport's drop-off fee (from £5.50 to £7 for just 15 minutes) is a sharp hike that hits passengers and businesses hard," Wratten stated. "There appears to be little connection between this increase and actual transport or operational needs."
Wratten further suggested this forms part of a worrying trend across UK airports. "This is part of a domino effect: once Heathrow and Gatwick raised their charges, it set a new benchmark. Now other airports are clearly testing how far they can push these fees, creating additional financial pressure on travellers."
Airport Operators Defend Decision
AGS Airports, which operates both Glasgow and Aberdeen airports, has explained that the price hike results from "increases in its cost base." The company acknowledged that this "is not a popular decision" but emphasised that all money raised will be used to "strengthen" Glasgow Airport's connectivity and "help to attract new routes."
A spokesperson for Glasgow Airport elaborated on the reasoning behind the change. "Due to increases in our cost base, we have taken the decision to increase our Pick Up and Drop Off charges. We appreciate that this is not a popular decision; however, it is important that the airport remains competitive," the spokesperson said.
Free Alternatives Available for Passengers
The airport emphasised that passengers do have alternative options available to avoid the new charge:
- The £7 fee applies specifically to the pick-up and drop-off area, which is intended for short visits of up to 15 minutes only
- A free alternative exists where customers can park for up to one hour in the long stay car park
- Passengers using this free option can access a complimentary, on-demand shuttle service to and from the terminal
- Valid Blue Badge holders continue to receive 30 minutes free parking in the multi-storey car park
The spokesperson added: "We would encourage anyone who thinks they may be longer than 15 minutes to use the free alternative or our short-stay car park. This change represents an increase of £1 from the previous charge and is necessary to ensure we can continue developing our services and route network."
The implementation of these new charges at two major Scottish airports marks a significant development in airport pricing across the UK, with industry observers watching closely to see if other regional airports will follow suit with similar increases to their passenger fees.
