East Midlands Airport charges row rumbles on as angry cabbies slam rapid drop off price increase

The East Midlands Airport (EMA) rapid drop-off row has reared-up again, less than 48 hours after TaxiPoint revealed that EMA airport bosses approved plans to increase its charges for motorists dropping passengers at its rapid drop off (RDO) point.

Taxi drivers have slammed EMA's decision to increase parking charges in it's RDO zone. One taxi company claimed airport bosses were treating customers like idiots. 

The new charging regime was introduced on Monday 24 June, with the RDO tariff changing from £2 for 10 minutes to £3 for 10 minutes. 

According to Nottinghamshire Live, funds raised from the price increase will be assigned to fund investment in the RDO zone.

One of the major concerns for taxi drivers using the airport is the cost, with the probability that customers are going to have to foot the bill and causing cabbies to lose trade.

It was claimed that the tariff increase will make EMA one of the most expensive airports to drop-off in the UK. 

Airport bosses had previously scrapped tariff changes to its RDO zone after being  slammed by angry motorists. 

Initially the airport changed its fee for dropping off from 10 minutes for £2, to five minutes for £2 with a subsequent £1 per minute charge. 42 year old taxi driver, Paul Fenway, said the price hike was "scandalous". He also said that charging to drop off was a "scam".

Azeem Hanif, chairman for the Nottingham branch of the union United Private Hire Drivers, said: "I am in agreement with drivers that they will just see this as a money-making scheme." 

Image Source: Geograph

Image Author: Robin Stott