Stansted Airport has increased its fee for drivers dropping off or picking up passengers to £10, making it one of the most expensive in the UK. The rise places it alongside London Gatwick at the top of the pricing scale, surpassing Edinburgh Airport's recent increase to £8.50.
The move comes as airports across the country adjust charges to cover rising costs. Edinburgh Airport cited an extra £8 million business rates bill as the reason for its 42 per cent hike, which also saw the removal of a half-price concession for electric vehicle owners, resulting in a 183 per cent increase for them.
Stansted's new fee applies to the forecourt drop-off zone, while a free drop-off and pick-up area remains available for passengers who can park for up to 30 minutes without charge. The airport has not commented on whether the increase is linked to business rates or other operational costs.
Drop-off charges were first introduced after a terrorist attack on Glasgow Airport in 2007, when two terrorists attempted to drive a Jeep loaded with propane cylinders into the terminal. Following the incident, airports across the UK reconfigured their forecourts for security, and Birmingham Airport began charging to cover the costs, a practice that quickly spread.
