One of the UK's largest airports has increased its 'kiss and fly' charges by more than 40 per cent just before the busy summer season. Edinburgh Airport executives claim that raising the drop-off fee from £6 to £8.50 was 'unavoidable' after facing an 'unacceptable' £8 million business rates increase imposed by the Scottish Government.
The airport stated that it had not planned to raise the cost of a ten-minute stay in the drop-off and pick-up zone at the main terminal building. However, chief executive Gordon Dewar said the 'absence of a transitional relief scheme, equivalent to that available in England and Wales, leaves us with no alternative'. The £2.50 increase will take effect from May 18, ahead of the airport's busiest period, with over three million passengers expected in July and August.
Political backlash
Scottish Conservative MSP Miles Briggs criticised the rise, which comes just months after Glasgow and Aberdeen increased their fees to £7 – up £1 and £1.50 respectively on last year. He said: 'Passengers are being used as a cash cow to offset the SNP's brutal business rate rises. Many people are reliant on these quick drop-offs as public transport in our cities under the SNP is too unreliable or simply not practical for an airport trip.'
Edinburgh Airport, which saw a record of almost 17 million passengers in 2025, said the '142 per cent rise in business rates' represents the 'largest increase in costs faced by any airport in Scotland and the UK'. Mr Dewar described the scale of the increase as 'simply unacceptable' and has written to ministers and the Lothian Valuation Joint Board expressing concerns about the rates process. The airport also confirmed it had been forced to scrap the 50 per cent reduction for electric vehicles.
Industry and opposition reactions
Jim Kyle, chairman of the Scottish Taxi Federation, called the £8.50 fee 'over the top' and said 'the public is getting robbed'. The Scottish Government responded by stating that the valuation of all non-domestic property is a matter for the Scottish Assessors, who are independent of central and local government. A spokesman added: 'The Scottish Government's Revaluation Transitional Relief protects those most affected at revaluation – including airports.'
Scottish Labour Transport spokesman Daniel Johnson said: 'These steep charges will hit the pockets of Scottish holidaymakers and risk driving investment away from our city – and they are a direct result of the SNP's business rate hikes. The SNP's eyewatering hikes to business rates are piling pressure on lots of businesses and customers are paying the price. Edinburgh Airport should rethink this increase but, crucially, the SNP should fix the mess it has made of business rates in Scotland and work to improve connectivity into and across Edinburgh.'
