Passengers being dropped off at Gatwick Airport will face a steep 43% price hike from tomorrow, making it the most expensive airport in the UK for the service. The fee will rise from £7 to £10 per entrance to the designated zone, enforced by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.
Airports Across the UK Hike Charges
Gatwick is not alone in increasing costs for drivers. London City Airport will introduce its first-ever drop-off fee of £8 tomorrow, having previously offered the service for free. Meanwhile, Bristol Airport increased its charge by £1.50 to £8.50 as of today, January 1st, securing its position as the second most expensive after Gatwick.
A Gatwick spokeswoman defended the significant increase, stating it was not taken lightly. She cited a "more than doubling" of the airport's business rates as a key driver, alongside a desire to encourage public transport use, reduce terminal congestion, and fund sustainable travel initiatives. The airport highlighted that drivers can still avoid the fee by using the long-stay car park and its free shuttle bus.
Business Rates Blamed for Soaring Costs
The airports point directly to Chancellor Rachel Reeves' November budget, which will see revised business rates come into effect this April. According to data from global tax firm Ryan, based on Valuation Office Agency (VOA) figures, Gatwick faces an £11.9 million increase, taking its total business rates bill to £51.6 million for the 2026-27 tax year.
Heathrow Airport is set for an even larger £35 million rise, bringing its bill to £151.5 million. Heathrow also increased its own drop-off charge from £6 to £7 on January 1st. A government spokesperson noted a £4.3 billion support package is capping increases at 30% for the largest properties, including airports, preventing rises of up to 500%.
Drivers and Experts React to the Increases
Rod Dennis, a senior policy officer at the RAC, which monitors airport fees, called Gatwick's hike the largest ever recorded. "A more than 40 per cent increase... represents a doubling of the fee first introduced in 2021," he told AOL. He expressed sympathy for drivers, particularly those assisting elderly relatives or young children with heavy luggage, for whom public transport is often impractical.
Dennis also marked the end of an era with London City Airport's new charge, calling it an "unwelcome watershed moment." He noted the UK's move towards universal airport drop-off fees contrasts sharply with major European airports, where free drop-offs remain common. London City stated its £8 fee aims to support sustainability goals and Mayor Sadiq Khan's target for 80% of London journeys to be made by walking, cycling, or public transport by 2041.
Exemptions for Blue Badge holders will continue at both Gatwick and London City airports. However, the new charges are expected to be passed on to passengers using taxis and minicabs.
