Gatwick Airport is raising the price of its terminal drop-off zones by £3 from 6 January, increasing the minimum charge for a 10-minute stop to £10, the airport confirmed.
The move marks the latest rise in fees introduced in 2021 and adds to growing costs faced by drivers taking passengers to the UK’s second-busiest airport. Gatwick said the increase reflects higher operating expenses and forms part of efforts to manage congestion and encourage public transport use.
The announcement comes as airports across the UK continue to adjust parking and access charges, with Gatwick’s new rate representing a more than 40% increase on the previous fee. Motoring groups have criticised the change, warning that it will further burden travellers and families at the start of the new year, while the airport maintains that alternatives remain available for those seeking to avoid the charge.
Drop-off fee increases and reaction from drivers
The £10 fee will apply to drivers stopping outside Gatwick’s terminals for up to 10 minutes. The airport first introduced a drop-off charge of £5 in March 2021, citing congestion and environmental concerns. That fee increased to £6 in 2024 and rose again to £7 in May, before the latest jump announced for January.
Rod Dennis, senior policy officer at the RAC, said the scale of the increase was unprecedented. “The words ‘Happy New Year’ are unlikely to be uttered by drivers dropping off friends and family at Gatwick in January,” said Rod Dennis, Senior Policy Officer, RAC. He added: “A more than 40% increase in the cost to drop-off is the largest we’ve ever seen and represents a doubling of the fee since it first came in.”
Gatwick said the decision was driven by rising costs, including higher taxes. “This increase in the drop-off charge is not a decision we have taken lightly, however, we are facing a number of increasing costs, including a more than doubling of our business rates,” said a Gatwick spokesperson. The airport said the additional revenue would support wider transport initiatives and help limit traffic congestion around its terminals.
According to Gatwick, the higher charge is also intended to encourage passengers to consider public transport options, including rail and bus services that connect the airport with London and the South East. The airport said reducing the number of cars at terminal entrances is part of its broader sustainability strategy.
Wider trend across UK and European airports
Gatwick is not alone in increasing drop-off fees. Heathrow Airport is raising its drop-off charge from £6 to £7 from 1 January, while London City Airport, the last major UK airport without such a fee, is set to introduce a drop-off charge later this month. The changes highlight a growing trend among UK airports to monetise access to terminal forecourts.
By comparison, Southend Airport charges £7 for a drop-off of up to five minutes, rising to £15 for stays between five and 30 minutes. The RAC has noted that such charges vary widely across the UK, often depending on how long drivers remain in designated zones.
A government spokesperson said airports retain control over parking and access pricing but must comply with consumer law. “Airports are responsible for setting their own parking terms but must follow consumer law and justify their charges,” said a government spokesperson.
The spokesperson added that the government is providing a £4.3bn support package to cap business rates bill increases at 30% before other reliefs for large properties, including airports, noting that “without intervention those would be up to 500%.”
Gatwick said passengers can still be dropped off free of charge in its long-stay car parks, where a complimentary shuttle bus operates to the terminals. Blue Badge holders also remain exempt from the drop-off charge.
Consumer groups have pointed out that the UK remains an outlier in Europe when it comes to airport drop-off fees. According to RAC research, only one of mainland Europe’s 10 largest airports, Schiphol in Amsterdam, currently charges drivers to drop off passengers at terminals.
For travellers and drivers using Gatwick in early 2026, the latest increase means factoring higher access costs into travel plans. With further fee changes planned at other UK airports, motoring organisations say pressure on drivers is likely to continue as airports seek new revenue streams and attempt to manage traffic flows around busy terminals.
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