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AIRPORT DROP-OFFS: Minister says Heathrow and London City Airport taxi charges for passengers are a TfL matter
Transport Minister Keir Mather has said that taxi fares and additional charges for London-licensed taxis are a matter for Transport for London (TfL), in response to a parliamentary question about proposed increases to airport drop-off charges at Heathrow and London City airports.
The written question was submitted by Richard Holden, the Conservative MP and Shadow Transport Secretary. He asked what assessment the Department for Transport had made of the potential impact of TfL’s proposals to increase charges payable by taxi passengers for airport drop-offs.
Mather’s answer did not set out an impact assessment or comment on the scale of any proposed increase. It stated: “Taxi fares and additional charges for London licensed taxis are a matter for Transport for London.”
The response places responsibility for the issue with TfL and comes amid wider parliamentary discussion about airport access fees and whether taxis should be treated differently from other vehicles.
In a separate Public Bill Committee debate on the Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill, MPs called for taxi and private hire vehicles to be considered separately when airport drop-off charges are reviewed.
Liberal Democrat MP Luke Taylor argued that taxis could reduce unnecessary vehicle movements if they carry passengers both to and from airports. The Government agreed to extend the timeframe for its review of airport drop-off charges to 12 months after the legislation receives Royal Assent.
The committee debate also raised concerns about the effect of airport charges on disabled passengers and people with limited public transport options. Those issues may be relevant to the Heathrow and London City proposals, although Mather’s written answer does not address them directly.
The drop-off fees imposed by airports have never been covered by the driver, but always passed onto the passenger who is travelling. Most airports do have a free drop-off area away from the terminals that require further shuttle services should the passenger chose the option not to pay.
