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Belfast International airport will now charge motorists £5 to drop off passengers at its terminals.
From Monday, 9 March, people collecting or dropping off passengers will pay the increased fee to spend less than 10 minutes at the largest airport in Northern Ireland.
Previously, drivers paid just £3 to use the drop-off zone next to the terminal building. The move is an increase of 66 per cent.
According to the airport, cars “must not be left unattended at any time” with payment made on exit.
Penalty charges of up to £60 will apply to drop-offs that exceed the 10-minute time slot.
Belfast International encourages Blue Badge holders to use the Short Stay Car Park, which is free of charge for 30 minutes, when getting dropped off or collected.
It added that travellers can reach its terminals from the Long Stay Car Park, which is free for collecting and dropping off passengers for 15 minutes.
A statement from Belfast International airport said that the new pricing “reflects significant cost pressures that many businesses across Northern Ireland are currently facing”, reported BBC News.
The aviation hub added: “We remain committed to transforming the airport and are progressing with our £100m investment programme that has already delivered a new terminal extension, security hall and enhanced duty-free experience.”
It’s not the only airport to hike drop-off charges for travellers.
Motorists dropping off passengers in front of the terminals at London Gatwick airport must now pay £10 for the privilege.
Britain’s second-busiest airport is the first in the UK to raise its drop-off fee to double figures – an increase of 43 per cent on the previous £7 charge. The Sussex hub blames the increase on its surging business rates bill.
A spokesperson for Gatwick said: “This increase in the drop-off charge is not a decision we have taken lightly; however, we are facing a number of increasing costs, including a more than doubling of our business rates in the recent Budget.”
Read more: Last major UK airport introduces drop-off charge
