Cardiff Airport to introduce new pick-up and drop-off charges
Cardiff Airport has announced changes to its pick-up and drop-off parking charges. The new system, which includes a £3 minimum drop-off charge, will come in on October 1.
The airport said in an announcement: "The cost of dropping off and picking up at Cardiff Airport is changing. Starting Tuesday, October 1, 2024, a fee of £3 will be charged for customers, visitors, colleagues and partners using the airport’s drop off and pick up areas, for the first ten minutes."
Drop-off charges will be £3 for the first 10 minutes and then £3 for every additional 10 minutes thereafter. Previously, dropping off was free for up to five minutes and then £3 for every five minutes thereafter. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter.
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Pick-up charges will also change to £3 for the first 10 minutes, but £4 for the first 20. It's currently £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.
The airport is also renaming its car parks "to make it easier for our customers". The current Short Stay will now be known as Car Park 1, the current Long Stay will now be known as Car Park 2 and Meet & Greet will now be known as Express Park.
The announcement continued: "Cardiff Airport's drop off and pick up tariffs remain competitive with other UK airports. There is still a free 20 minutes drop off and pick up available in Car Park 2 (formerly Long-Stay). It is a short distance from the terminal and open 24/7."
Here is the airport's updated parking map:
Not everybody was happy with the changes. One Facebook commenter said: "And they wonder why people use other airports... ridiculous £3 to drop someone off who's paying to use the airport and probably spend a bloody fortune in there."
Another added: "Surely Short Stay and Long Stay is far more self explanatory than Car Park 1 and Car Park 2.. Who made up these names! Please stick to names that succinctly describe their purpose."
However another pointed out: "If you don’t have £10 spare to get dropped at the airport then you shouldn’t be going on holiday. The real issue is lack of flight destinations and carriers currently operating from Cardiff Airport."
Several said that the prices were cheaper than other airports they had been to.