Gatwick Airport raises the price of the terminal drop-off zones by over 40% to become the most expensive airport in the UK
Gatwick Airport management decided to oblige drivers to pay higher fees for the passenger drop-off zones in front of the terminal, where prices will be raised by three British Pounds starting from January 6, making the minimum fee £10, which makes this airport located in West Sussex the most expensive across the United Kingdom in terms of passenger drop-off cost.
The airport management attributed the price increase to “a number of increasing costs, including the near doubling of our business rates, which we cannot absorb,” confirming that “this decision was not taken lightly.”
Rod Dennis, Head of Policy at the RAC organization, commented that ” ‘A trouble-free year’ are not words drivers dropping off friends and family at Gatwick in January are likely to be saying.”
He added: “A more than 40 per cent increase in the cost of drop-off is the largest we’ve ever seen, and represents a doubling of the fee since it was first introduced.”
The drop-off fee was enforced at a price of £5 at Gatwick Airport in March 2021, then raised to £6 in 2024, and then increased again to £7 last May. Details of this change can be viewed here.
A Communications Director at Gatwick Airport explained that “Passengers can still drop off free of charge in our long-stay car parks, with a complimentary shuttle bus transfer to the main terminal.”
She added: “Our airport enjoys excellent public transport connectivity, as passengers can connect directly to over 120 train stations.”
She continued: “Many local bus routes serving the airport operate 24 hours a day, ten days a week.”
The Director pointed out that “Blue Badge” holders remain entitled to fee exemption.
Promoting Sustainable Transport
The airport’s statement noted that “the increased drop-off charges will support wider efforts to incentivize greater public transport use, helping to reduce the number of cars and limit congestion at our terminal forecourts.”
She added: “This increase will fund a number of sustainable transport initiatives – such as our £1 million investment in new and improved ‘Metrobus’ journeys in 2025.”
The drop-off fee at Heathrow Airport will also be raised starting from January 1st from £6 to £7, but Gatwick’s fee will remain higher than any other airport in the United Kingdom.
As for London City and Inverness airports, drivers do not pay any fees for dropping off passengers.
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