Tackling issues with Parking, Drop-off & Pick-up Charges at Manchester Airport

It was great to be at Manchester Airport last week to meet with Managing Director Chris Woodroofe as the next step on our campaign to change the airport’s approach to drop-off and collections charges, given the impact on drivers who find themselves faced with unfair charges.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 …

We discussed the issues we raised in letters in August and September with the current approach to parking, drop-off and pick-up charges. Mainly, poor signage before entry, the stacking up of charges, ‘no-loss’ appeals, and extending the payment period.

It is positive that the airport confirmed the ‘no loss’ appeal has been mitigated with the clock stopping on the deadline for a payment of a fine when an appeal has been made, so that if an unsuccessful appeal was made during the ‘discounted’ period, the lower amount can still be due rather than being penalised for making an appeal.

However, we’re pushing for more. The airport confirmed they are currently reviewing signage given the expanding Terminal 2, and changes at Terminals 1 & 3. It was encouraging to hear that this review will consider making the process more transparent to drivers so they have the clear option of only entering the ‘contract’ involved with paid parking after they are made aware by signs of what it involves in terms of costs & timing.

We also want an extension to the payment period from 24 hours to 48 hours and more transparency on the stacking up of charges. While I was given positive assurances about the success of appeals which involve stacked up charges, there is still a lack of transparency. The airport has a duty to make it clearer to drivers if it is the case that appeals should be successful if charges have been inadvertently or unfairly stacked up.

To be clear, we are not against parking charges but a fairer & more transparent system is needed. As an institution which is important for our city-region and the North more generally, the airport must recognise its social responsibility for the local area.

𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝟮 …

Fantastic to be given a tour of the brand new Terminal 2, from the expanded & modernised security desks, to state-of-the-art boarding gates with greater capacity. After the difficulties the aviation industry around with world suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns, Manchester has bounced back and proved once again it is at the forefront of the industry, offering passenger experience local people deserve.

Continued 5% year on year growth is good to see, which will only be bolstered by the £1.3 billion 10 year transformation of Terminal 2 finishing soon. As Terminals 1 & 3 are reconfigured to accommodate this expansion, the next step is to nail down the public transport option for passengers. The current offer of trams and direct trains from the city centre is good, but ambitions should be raised. A growth of passengers using public transport from 14% to 19% in recent years shows we are going in the right direction, but this is still well below that of Gatwick and other London airports which are of similar size to Manchester.

Better infrastructure is needed and Labour in power is showing our commitment to this, from the backing of the new Liverpool to Manchester rail which will go through the airport, to commuter rail coming into the Bee Network over the next few years, the ongoing Transpennine Route Upgrade improving connectivity, and potential to simplify ticketing for those trying to travel from our borough to the city centre and then onto the airport.

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 …

The Manchester Airport jobs fair in Wythenshawe is being held tomorrow, showing the airport’s commitment to driving local job growth. Why can’t our borough get this same opportunity given the airport is only 20 minutes down the road and our Council is a shareholder in it

350 jobs at the airport being held by people in Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton is positive but more can be done. The working class aspiration which drove me to become an apprentice is offered by jobs at Manchester Airport. That is why we are working to get the Airport to join our jobs fairs here in Oldham too.