Heathrow has confirmed its brand new drop-off charge will commence on 1 November 2021.
The UK's biggest airport is introducing the £5 ticket aspart of its covid recovery plan after the pandemic severley imapcted the aviation industry.
With the fee coming into force in just over two weeks' time, SurreyLive has taken a look at all the details so you will know what to expect.
HOW WILL IT WORK?
All vehicles entering Heathrow terminal drop-off zones will pay £5 and this £5 charge will apply on every visit.
The drop-off charge does not affect passenger pick-ups, which will continue to take place at the car parks.
Visitors will not be able to pick up passengers from the drop-off zones.
It will be operated via Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), so there will be no barriers at the drop-off points.
Previously, Heathrow planned on introducing the rule in October. But on October 14 the airport confirmed the fee will come into effect from 1 November, 2021.
The Terminal Drop-Off Charge will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
HOW DO I PAY?
The £5 charge cannot be paid at an airport ticket machine or in the terminal drop-off zones.
It can only be done online by autopay or by an automated telephone service.
Customers will be able to pay in advance, on the drop-off day, or by midnight the next day.
WHAT IF I DON'T PAY?
If you do not pay, you will face an £80 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.
ARE THERE ANY EXEMPTIONS?
If you have a taxi (black cab/hackney carriage) which is actively licensed with London Taxi and Private Hire (TPH), you will have a 100% discount (for now!)
This discount will be automatically applied to actively licensed taxis UNTIL 1st April 2022, allowing TfL time to conduct a public consultation and for any adjustment to meter charges to be made in accordance with statutory requirements.
This discount is ONLY for a taxi which is actively licensed with London Taxi and Private Hire (TPH), all OTHER taxis must pay the £5 Terminal Drop-Off Charge.
Private hire vehicles (PHVs) DO NOT have a 100% discount from the Terminal Drop-Off Charge.
PHV drivers and operators need to pay the Terminal Drop-Off Charge if they drop-off in the terminal drop-off zones.
Other exemptions include: valid UK or European Economic Area blue badge holders (even if you don’t own a vehicle or drive), roadside recovery vehicles, two-wheeled motorbikes, buses or coaches, as well as emergency service vehicles and military vehicles.
If you are a taxi driver (black cabs), private hire vehicle driver or operator, and want to register a business account, please use the link below:
https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/terminal-drop-off-charge
WHY IS IT BEING INTRODUCED?
According to the airport, the charge will protect jobs but also contribute to its aim of reducing airport-related traffic.
Heathrow Airport said: "The charge was initially proposed last year and forms part of our updated Surface Access and sustainability plans. Heathrow is the last major UK airport to introduce such a charge, as similar drop-off charges are already in place at the other 9 major UK airports."
The drop-off charge will replace its previous plans to introduce a Heathrow Ultra-Low Emissions Zone by 2022 and a Heathrow Vehicle Access Charge.
Source PHTM and SurreyLive.
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