Government and BAA ‘colluded’ over drop-off charge

The Scottish government stands accused of having colluded with Edinburgh Airport owner BAA.

Travel Insurance News - 14/02/2011

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Critics are accusing Scotland’s government of having ‘colluded’ with airport operator BAA over the creation of the much-hated £1 drop-off charge at Edinburgh Airport. The controversial charge recently came into effect amidst a storm of outrage.

When the ‘kiss and fly’ fee was originally announced, government ministers hastened distance themselves publicly from the controversy. Saying the fee was a matter for the airport operator, they said they were not supporting the charge.

Recently, however, it emerged that the government had secretly supported the decision to bring in the charge. Thanks to documents obtained via freedom of information legislation, it can be revealed that the government was supporting the charge well in advance of its introduction.

According to the documents, a senior official with the ministry of transport assured executives at BAA that ‘such a charge’ had his support. This government support was given to BAA nearly one year in advance of the charge being introduced.

In fact, the papers show that the government had actually supported a higher charge. A senior government policy officer who had been in meetings with executives at BAA is quoted in the documents saying the proposed charge of £1 was ‘too low’.

Scotland’s government now says the government officer in the documents, Martin Ritchie, was speaking without the knowledge or approval of the government. The opportunity has been taken by critics, who are pointing to the fact that Mr Ritchie had told airport executives the drop-off charge would be the best way of dealing with traffic congestion.

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