GATWICK AND STANSTED CHARGE HIGHEST DROP-OFF FEES IN UK

Gatwick and Stansted airports charge the highest drop-off fees for drivers in the UK, according to research by the RAC conducted ahead of the summer holiday season. Gatwick charges £10 for 10 minutes, whilst Stansted charges £10 for 15 minutes. Edinburgh and Bristol airports follow, each charging £8.50 for 10 minutes. London City Airport, which previously permitted free drop-offs outside its terminal, now imposes £8 for five minutes—described as the nation's most expensive charge for that duration.

Analysis from the RAC found that 16 out of 20 UK airports surveyed increased their drop-off fees over the past year, with an average cost rise of one-third. Only four airports—Liverpool John Lennon, East Midlands, Belfast City and Southampton—did not raise charges. For electric vehicle owners at Edinburgh, the increase reached 183 per cent following the removal of a previous half-price concession. The RAC noted that passengers using taxis and private hire vehicles routinely encounter these charges at UK airports, though most airports offer complimentary drop-off zones in mid- or long-stay car parks requiring bus transfers to terminals.

Rod Dennis, senior policy officer at the RAC, stated that the charges represent poor practice compared with international peers. He noted that none of the ten busiest airports in the European Union, nor major global hubs including Dubai, Shanghai and Istanbul, impose drop-off fees. Mr Dennis called the charges disappointing and questioned why UK airports could not operate free drop-off zones as international airports do, particularly given the limited space management required at other facilities worldwide.