Gatwick Airport is set to increase its terminal forecourt drop-off charge to £10, continuing a series of price rises that have already made it one of the most expensive airport drop-off fees in the UK. The airport says the charge is intended to reduce congestion, cut emissions and encourage passengers to use public transport instead, as reported by the BBC. The fee to allow drivers to stop outside the terminal for 10 minutes is set to increase on 6 January.
The fee applies to vehicles using the designated drop-off zones outside the North and South terminals, with payment required online or by phone. Drivers who fail to pay within the required time risk receiving a Parking Charge Notice.
DM News Commentary
For taxi and private hire drivers, this is another example of airport charges quietly creeping up year after year. In reality, the £10 fee rarely comes out of the driver’s pocket — it is almost always passed directly on to the passenger as part of the fare.
That said, it still creates friction. Passengers are often shocked when they see how much they’re being charged just to stop for a few minutes, and drivers are left explaining airport policies they have no control over. For short drop-offs, £10 is a steep price, especially when compared to the actual time spent in the zone.
There’s also the wider concern that these charges disproportionately affect families, elderly passengers and those with heavy luggage — the very people least able to walk long distances or rely on limited public transport options.
From an industry perspective, airport drop-off fees are increasingly becoming a hidden tax on travel, and Gatwick’s latest rise will only fuel the debate about whether airports are genuinely managing traffic, or simply using forecourts as a reliable revenue stream.
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