Airports warned over parking

Airport drop-off parking providers were warned of growing pressure last week after it was reported airline passengers are more likely to travel by car or taxi to catch flights from Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton than they were seven years ago.

London’s Evening Standard said the trend had been highlighted in a report showing that despite major investment in rail and coach links to the airports, the proportion of passengers using public transport had actually fallen between 2012 and 2016.

The major exception to the trend was Stansted, with accessibility improved by new coach connections directly to Underground stations such as Stratford, Paddington and Golders Green, the Standard said. London City Airport was also an exception.

The report, from London TravelWatch, said the drop in passengers using public transport “is a concerning trend if the objectives of the airports and the Mayor of London are to be met”.

The proportion using public transport fell from 41% to 39.1% at Heathrow, 44% to 43.6% at Gatwick and 33% to 31.4% at Luton, with public transport failings and cab apps like Uber cited as reasons. It rose at Stansted from 51% to 54.7% and at London City from 50% to 50.9%.

(See also Bristol plans free drop-off zone in this issue).

www.londontravelwatch.org.uk

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