Heathrow Airport will increase its terminal drop-off charge from £6 to £7 from January, with motorists given 10 minutes in the drop-off zones before a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) may be issued, according to BBC News.
The west London airport confirmed that the charge applies to vehicles using terminal forecourts, with enforcement triggered if drivers exceed the 10-minute allowance. Heathrow says the policy is aimed at managing congestion and encouraging travellers to use public transport where possible.
The airport already operates one of the most expensive terminal drop-off systems in the UK, and the increase will apply across all terminals, subject to existing exemptions.
DM News Commentary
For the private hire and taxi trade, this change doesn’t significantly impact day-to-day operations. In reality, airport drop-off charges are almost always passed directly on to the passenger, either as a separate surcharge or built into the fare. Drivers are not typically absorbing these costs themselves.
However, £7 for just 10 minutes highlights how expensive airport access has become for such a short window of time. At busy hubs like Heathrow, delays caused by congestion, unclear terminal layouts, or slow-moving passengers can easily push drivers beyond the grace period — turning a routine drop-off into an unnecessary penalty risk.
While the charge may not hit drivers financially, it reinforces growing frustration among passengers, who are increasingly paying premium prices simply to be dropped off outside a terminal.
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