By Emma Jolliff
Wellington Airport is about to introduce barrier arms and tickets at its drop-off zone to stop drivers using it as a through road.
If drivers take more than five minutes they'll be charged, but the airport denies it’s trying to milk more revenue out of its users.
The airport says one-third of the cars passing through its passenger drop-off zone are just using it as a shortcut, so it's making changes to ease congestion.
“We're adding more kerb space and we're also looking at additional ramps to get people up to the drop-off area,” says Wellington Airport COO John Howarth.
They're also going to install ticket barrier arms at either end of Stewart Duff Dr, which is on airport land.
Motorists dropping people off will have to be in and out within five minutes or pay parking fees of at least $3.
The airport estimates a drop-off takes just three minutes so there will be plenty of time to get out, but some using the drop-off today weren't so sure.
“Drop off and pickup should be at least 10 to 15 minutes,” says one.
“I think they treat us like shit and milks us like cows,” says another.
Twenty-five thousand people come into the airport via Stewart Duff Dr every day.
City councillor Leonie Gill says the barriers will disadvantage locals who use this as the main route from Miramar Peninsula to Lyall bay and the airport shopping centre.
They want people to drive around the western side of the airport instead.
“The difference in times are only minimal,” says Mr Howarth.
At other airports like Auckland, there are marshals moving people on.
This is not, Howarth says, about revenue raising and he doesn't think the barriers will create delays.
“We’re confident that there's not going to be any queues.”
Construction of the new measures will start next month.
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