Faraz Khan, a 36-year-old Uber driver from Armley, has criticised Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) after being charged £39 for dropping off passengers and returning less than an hour later. The charge, known as a recirculation fee, was applied on 20 May after he made three trips to the airport within a short period.
Khan explained that after each drop-off, he exited the free one-hour parking zone, but on his third trip the barrier system demanded a £39 payment. When he called for assistance, he was told the fee was due to a recirculated trip. Despite arguing that he had stayed for less than ten minutes and was a taxi driver, staff insisted he pay or face further penalties.
Khan described the airport’s policy as a “scam” and said it unfairly targets taxi drivers, who rely on frequent airport trips for their livelihood. He noted that other drivers have reported similar experiences recently. Uber advised him to cancel future airport jobs if he risked breaching the rules again.
A spokesperson for Leeds Bradford Airport defended the policy, stating that the recirculation charge was introduced in 2019 to prevent misuse of the free one-hour zone, which had become a prolonged holding area for vehicles looping round indefinitely. The charge is clearly signposted upon entry and within the car park. Vehicles can re-enter free of charge one hour after leaving.
Khan, who has been an Uber driver since 2015, warned that the policy could severely impact the local taxi industry, especially during the busy summer holiday season when drivers make multiple airport trips daily. He fears passengers will face chaos when trying to be picked up from the car park, as fewer drivers will be willing to go there.
