Cardiff Airport is set to implement new charges for pick-up and drop-off services, as announced by walesonline. The airport revealed that a £3 minimum drop-off charge will be introduced starting from October 1. The new system aims to regulate the use of pick-up and drop-off areas, with a fee of £3 for the first ten minutes for customers, visitors, colleagues, and partners.
Previously, dropping off passengers was free for up to five minutes, followed by a charge of £3 for every five minutes thereafter. Under the new scheme, drop-off charges will remain at £3 for the initial 10 minutes, with an additional £3 for every subsequent 10 minutes. Pick-up charges will also be adjusted to £3 for the first 10 minutes and then £4 for the first 20 minutes.
The current pricing structure for pick-up entails £1 for up to 10 minutes, £2 for 10 to 20 minutes, £5 for up to an hour, £15 for up to two hours, and £50 per full 24 hours. Additionally, Cardiff Airport will rename its car parks to simplify navigation for customers, with the Short Stay becoming Car Park 1, Long Stay now called Car Park 2, and Meet & Greet renamed to Express Park.
Despite the changes, Cardiff Airport assured that their pick-up and drop-off tariffs remain competitive compared to other UK airports. There will still be a free 20-minute drop-off and pick-up option available in Car Park 2 (formerly Long-Stay), located a short distance from the terminal and accessible 24/7. However, the announcement of these modifications stirred mixed reactions among the public.
While some expressed dissatisfaction with the new charges, citing concerns about affordability and naming conventions for the car parks, others defended the airport’s adjustments, highlighting the relative affordability compared to other airport facilities. The debate on the changes reflects varying perspectives on the balance between operational costs and customer convenience in airport services.
As Cardiff Airport prepares to implement the new pricing structure and parking nomenclature, the evolving landscape of transportation services continues to provoke discussions on accessibility, affordability, and customer experience in the travel industry.