What minibuses are the drivers using? If they are 8 passengers or less then they are cars and not minibuses. If they are 9 passengers or more, what are they doing running as taxis? They can't be licensed as a taxi.

What minibuses are the drivers using? If they are 8 passengers or less then they are cars and not minibuses. If they are 9 passengers or more, what are they doing running as taxis? They can't be licensed as a taxi.

“We drop off 40,000 passengers annually and this will have a huge financial impact on our business as we have many eight-seater vehicles dropping off daily

Taxi passengers facing higher fares to Newcastle Airport due to parking price hike, it is claimed

Newcastle Airport has introduced a new car park it says will increase traffic safety and improve service

Passengers at Newcastle Airport face paying more for taxis after a new charge was added.

Drivers are furious after they were told a new charge for larger vehicles would be imposed.

And they said the bill would have to be passed on to customers.

Newcastle Airport is to introduce a new mini-bus and van parking facility from March 29, charging £2.50 for 15 minutes.

At the same time, cars under two metres will have to use the adjacent Express car park - which is £1 for 15 minutes.

But the boss of a taxi firm said the move, said to improve traffic flow by the airport, was anything but a good idea.

Andy Black, of taxi firm Airport Express, said he was given just two days’ notice of the change.

He said: “It’s appalling. It means my guys with mini-buses who transfer one or two passengers at a time can’t use the Express car park any more and will lose part of their fare as it’s not fair to charge the mini-bus fare to small groups.

“A free car park, tucked out the side of the airport, is not sign posted and not easily found, especially for domestic flyers or foreign students, and is not a solution for travellers.

“If it’s cold or raining to be dropped off 400 meters from the doors is not going to happen.”

Andy said the changes would be regarded as a tax by drivers.

“This is purely a tax on larger vehicles dropping off at Newcastle Airport,” he said.

“We will have to ask the passengers to absorb this higher fare and that’s really cheeky when they have already paid so much just for their tickets.

“We drop off 40,000 passengers annually and this will have a huge financial impact on our business as we have many eight-seater vehicles dropping off daily.”

Newcastle Airport said the changes were designed to improve services.

A spokesperson said: “Due to the increasing demand for the use of the airport’s Express car park, together with the volume of mini-buses and vans now using the facility, the airport has created a dedicated parking area specifically for this type of vehicle.

“Investment has also been made in redesign of the Express car park to include revised traffic flow and a 4th exit to reduce congestion.

“The new redesigned Express car park and mini-bus / van parking facility are supported by a new signage strategy, to direct customers to the correct areas when arriving at the airport.

“The upgrade of the Express car park will help us to maintain a safe environment and to manage the flow of traffic at peak times.”

source: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor ... s-12806721

My 8 Seater is a Category M1 vehicle and that makes it a car...it says "Diesel car" on its V5C

Category M2 and M3 are Vehicles are minibuses that take more than 8 passengers....that'd be a minibus.

The article also reads it applies to Vehicles over 2 Meters...which must mean in height as very few cars are less than 2 Meters Long (6ft 6")

So it looks fairly certain that unless you own a vehicle with 8 Passenger seats or less It'll be Ok in the Express car park unless it has an extra High roof then its becomes less clear..however if its Cat M1 it is a a Car.


As for Cat M2 or M3 vehicles, they will just have to stump up as they are Minibuses..

As For Vans they will be in Category N1, N2 or N3 dependent on weight.

Newcastle Airport said the changes were designed to improve services.