Manchester Airport Drop-Off Fees Could Face a National Review

It seems the bear is not the only one asking whether airport drop-off charges have gone too far.

As reported by Secret Manchester, peers have forced the government to look again at airport pick-up and drop-off fees after challenging the Civil Aviation Bill.

At Manchester Airport, drivers can currently be charged £5.50 for just five minutes near the terminals, £6.50 for ten minutes and £25 for half an hour. Payment is enforced through automatic number plate recognition cameras.

Why are airport drop-off charges being reviewed?

Critics argue that airport drop-off fees have grown into an expensive and unavoidable charge for a captive audience.

Families collecting relatives, older travellers, disabled passengers and people carrying heavy luggage may have little realistic choice but to use the terminal areas. Unlike an ordinary car park, motorists cannot simply shop around for a cheaper provider next door.

Manchester Airport does provide a free drop-off area served by a shuttle bus, but that option may be less practical for passengers who need additional help or must stay close to the terminal.

What has Parliament actually done?

The House of Lords has not abolished Manchester Airport’s charges.

Instead, peers challenged progress on the Civil Aviation Bill in order to press the government for a wider review of airport drop-off and pick-up fees.

The government has defended the existing system, arguing that airport charges are already governed by consumer and competition law. Airports are generally permitted to set their own fees, provided prices are made clear and the rules comply with those laws.

So, for now, motorists must still pay the advertised drop-off fee by the stated deadline.

The small fee is only half the problem

For many motorists, the most troubling part is not simply the original £5.50 charge.

Manchester Airport uses a barrierless system. Drivers pass through an ANPR-controlled area and must remember to pay online afterwards. Someone who forgets can later receive a £100 private Parking Charge Notice.

That means a short stop costing only a few pounds can turn into a demand for twenty times as much.

The national review is focused on the fairness and regulation of the airport fees themselves. It does not automatically cancel private parking notices that have already been issued.

What if you receive a £100 Manchester Airport notice?

A private Parking Charge Notice should not simply be ignored, but it also should not automatically be treated as an official council fine.

Before deciding whether to pay or appeal, check:

• The exact location shown on the notice.
• Whether the recipient was actually driving.
• Whether Manchester Airport byelaws apply to the land.
• Whether the operator claims keeper liability under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.
• Whether the notice was issued and delivered within the relevant timescales.
• Whether the signs and payment instructions were sufficiently clear.

Airport land may be subject to statutory control and may therefore fall outside the definition of “relevant land” under Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act. Where that applies, a private operator may be unable to transfer an unidentified driver’s alleged liability automatically to the registered keeper.

Pressure on airport parking practices is growing

This parliamentary intervention follows growing public scrutiny of Manchester Airport’s parking system.

Motoring lawyer Nick Freeman has also questioned whether private operators can enforce Manchester Airport charges against registered keepers where airport byelaws prevent the use of statutory keeper liability.

The two issues are related but distinct:

• Parliament is considering whether the underlying airport drop-off fees are fair and properly regulated.
• Parking appeals may consider whether a private operator can legally hold the registered keeper responsible for a later £100 charge.

Neither development means that every airport charge is automatically invalid. But both show why motorists should understand exactly what they have received before paying.

Received a Manchester Airport parking charge?

Check the deadline on your notice and consider the facts carefully. Do not identify the driver casually when the notice has only been sent to the registered keeper.

ParkingBear can help you prepare a clear, personalised Manchester Airport appeal letter based on the details of your notice.

This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Parliamentary proposals and individual parking cases can change. The outcome of an appeal depends on its facts.