Gatwick slated for hiking drop-off charge to £10

Gatwick airport has been criticised for another hike in its drop-off charge, taking the cost from £7 to £10 next month.

 

The hub said on social media: “Our forecourt drop-off charge is changing from 6 January. The minimum charge to use our designated drop-off zones will increase to £10.

 

“You can pay online, over the phone, or by setting up an AutoPay account. You can still drop off for free in the Long Stay car parks. Blue Badge holders also remain exempt from the charge.”

 

Comments on social media were overwhelmingly critical, branding it a “disgrace” and highlighting the difficulty in reaching the airport at certain times of the day.

 

The airport introduced the fee in March 2021, charging passengers £5 and upwards, depending on the length of stay.

 

More: Hike in Heathrow drop-off charge ‘penalises business travellers’

 

A Gatwick spokesperson said: “London Gatwick’s forecourt charge/drop-off charge will increase to £10 (10 minutes) from 6 January 2026.

 

“This increase in the drop-off charge is not a decision we have taken lightly; however, we are facing a number of increasing costs, including a more than doubling of our business rates.

 

“Passengers can still be dropped off for free in our long-stay car parks, with a free shuttle bus to the terminal. Blue Badge holders remain exempt from the charge.

 

“We also have excellent public transport connectivity at the airport, with passengers able to connect directly with more than 120 train stations, while many local bus routes serve the airport 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

“The increase in the drop-off charge will support wider efforts to encourage greater use of public transport, helping limit the number of cars and reduce congestion at the entrance to our terminals, alongside funding a number of sustainable transport initiatives – such as our £1 million investment in new and enhanced Metrobus routes in 2025.”

 

Clive Wratten, Business Travel Associaion chief executive, commented: “Of course business rates are a challenge, but a £10 drop-off fee looks less like a necessity and more like a choice. This feels like a convenient excuse to increase fees that are already out of step with the passenger experience and the reality of regional connectivity.

 

“If airports really are serious about sustainability and supporting the UK workforce, they need to look beyond simply pricing people out at the kerbside and instead work with government and industry on solutions that improve access without penalising those who rely on it most.

 

“We estimate BTA members had around 1.5 million passengers travelling for work depart Gatwick in the past 12 months. Even using a conservative estimate that just 30% arrived by car, that means UK businesses paid roughly £3.15 million in drop-off fees over that period.

 

“With the increase to £10, that rises to £4.5 million, for the same journey and the same experience.

 

“Public transport is simply not a practical option for many. Gatwick regularly schedules more than 100 departures before 9am, with check-in requirements starting as early as 4am.

 

“For the vast majority of those passengers, there is no reliable bus or train option that gets them to the terminal at that time.

 

“This feels like a naked money grab. Airports are critical national infrastructure. They should be enabling access for the people who keep the economy moving. And not passing rising costs directly onto workers and businesses under the cover of wider tax pressures.”

 

News of the increase comes days after Heathrow airport was criticised for a hike its drop-off charge from £6 to £7, which comes into force on January 1.

 

Guy Hobbs, a travel expert at consumer publication Which?, said: “It is unsurprising that following Heathrow’s announcement last week, Gatwick has also pulled the trigger on a drop-off price hike in a fresh blow to travellers.

 

“These harsh price hikes and oppressive time limits from two of the UK’s busiest airports will only add another layer of stress, frustration and cost to passengers.

 

“Fortunately, there are alternative long-stay car parks where you can drop off free of charge at all major UK airports.”