'Kiss and drop' fee causes gridlock at Luton Airport
July 6, 2009Travellers bound for Luton Airport (LTN) this summer should give themselves plenty of time to reach the terminal while problems with the new drop-off levy are ironed out.
The "Kiss and drop" charge, introduced on July 1, is not yet running smoothly.
Yesterday, The Sunday Times reported that LTN's new traffic management plan caused gridlock on the approach road last week.
As taxis and private cars slowed to a crawl, passengers got out of the vehicles and walked to the terminal in attempts to make their flights.
One driver, quoted by the newspaper, said: "It’s six in the morning on a weekday in term-time. Can you imagine what it’s going to be like when the schools break up? Thousands of people are going to miss their flights.”
The airport’s management admitted that it could take between a month and six months to clear the congestion caused by the new scheme. “We’re doing everything we can to persuade the public to decide where they want to drop off before reaching the terminal.
"We’ve got a lot of signposts up and there’s information all over our website.”
At LTN, drivers are levied to drop passengers at a “priority set-down area” by the terminal. If they are in and out in ten minutes, the fee is £1. Those wishing to avoid the charge may park in the mid-term car park, half a mile from the terminal. From there travellers can take a free bus to the terminal. The bus journey takes a couple of minutes and buses depart every ten minutes.
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