Manchester Airport removing pick-up and drop-off zone barriers

Image by Bylan Reay / courtesy MAG
 
Barriers at the exits to Manchester Airport’s pick-up and drop-off zones will be removed from next week, between Wednesday 26th March and Wednesday 2nd April.

The switch to a new barrierless drop-off and pick-up system will improve the overall experience for both drivers and passengers by streamlining the process. By removing the existing barriers, drivers will pass through more smoothly without the need to stop on exit, helping reduce congestion and helping people avoid increased charges as a result of having to wait to leave the zones.
The new technology will be managed through an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system like that already in use at some other UK airports and familiar settings like bridges and tunnels.

Cameras will identify cars by their registration number and automatically record who has used the pick-up or drop-off zone. Rather than stopping at a barrier and paying as they leave the area, drivers will leave and then pay the charge by midnight the following day. They can do this online or over the phone.

The barrierless system will be in place at the pick-up and drop-off zones in all three of the airport’s terminals as well as it the train, tram and bus station.

The new system will go live in a phased approach at each location between 26 March and 2 April. Signs on approach to each zone will advise people of the steps they need to take.

There will be no change to the existing charges. No payments will be made when exiting the zones.

Once a driver has used a zone they will have until midnight the next day to pay. Frequent users, including taxi drivers, will be able to set up an auto-pay account.