Require airport drop-off payment window to be at least 7 days before penalties

Background

We call on the Government to require airports to allow reasonable payment window, such as 7 days, before issuing penalties for drop-off charges. In our view, drivers who intend to pay should not face disproportionate fines for missing short deadlines. Penalties should target deliberate non-payment.

Additional details

We understand that airport drop-off charges can help manage congestion, but we think that the move to automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems has created unfair penalties for simple mistakes. As airports rely more on online payments, drivers may not realise they must pay straight away after leaving. A longer payment window, such as 7 days, could allow airports to recover fees while ensuring penalties target deliberate non-payment rather than honest short-term forgetfulness.

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