Transport department to review rising airport drop-off charges across the UK
The Department for Transport has agreed to review airport drop-off charges after widespread increases prompted complaints that they make travel less accessible. The review matters because drivers can pay substantial sums for a brief stop, while airports say the charges help manage congestion and pollution.
An RAC study found that 16 of 20 UK airports surveyed had raised fees, by as much as a third since summer 2025. Gatwick charges £10 for ten minutes and Stansted the same for 15 minutes; Edinburgh and Bristol charge £8.50 for ten minutes. The RAC says the ten busiest airports in the EU do not charge for drop-offs, while UK airport representatives argue fees reflect private ownership and help manage traffic; free alternatives, sometimes with shuttle buses, are available at most airports.
- Government review to examine rising airport drop-off charges.
- Gatwick charges £10 for a ten-minute stop.
- Airports say fees help manage congestion and pollution.
New here? Start with this
UK airports often charge drivers who stop briefly to drop off passengers, with prices and time limits varying by airport. The charges are separate from parking fees, and some airports provide a free drop-off area farther from the terminal, sometimes linked by a shuttle bus.
Airports say the fees help control traffic and reduce congestion and pollution around terminals. Drivers’ groups and some travellers argue they can make airport journeys more costly, particularly for people who cannot easily use public transport or walk from a more distant drop-off point.
UK airports are generally privately owned, and their approach differs from that of airports elsewhere in Europe. The Department for Transport sets national transport policy, while individual airports decide their charges.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A review is justified because steep charges for a brief drop-off can make air travel harder to access, particularly for people with limited mobility, families and those who cannot use public transport. The increases across many airports warrant scrutiny of whether fees are proportionate and whether free alternatives are genuinely practical for passengers.
The case against
Airports can reasonably charge for access to privately owned roads and use fees to discourage unnecessary car journeys, reduce congestion and limit pollution. Maintaining free drop-off areas may shift costs to other passengers or make busy terminals harder to manage, while shuttle-based alternatives can offer a lower-cost option for those able to use them.
Art Culture Government Politics World
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “Extortionate airport drop-off fees of up to £10 for just TEN MINUTES face Government review amid growing fury over soaring costs”.