Government is to review airport drop-off charges after fees rise by a third in a year

Four in five drivers consider airport drop-off fees a rip-off, and the Department for Transport has committed to a review after charges at major UK airports climbed by an average of one third since summer 2025. Gatwick and Stansted recorded the sharpest increases, rising from £7 to £10, while London City Airport — which only began charging in 2026 — bills drivers £1.60 per minute. The government called on airports to "exercise restraint," especially where there are few public transport alternatives.

None of the top ten EU airports levy drop-off charges, making the UK an outlier, the RAC notes.

Gatwick and Stansted are the most expensive at £10, with Belfast International charging £5 for just 10 minutes — £2 more than last year.

The RAC says just one in ten drivers can explain the rationale behind the fees, and labels them "farewell fees" that put the UK at odds with international practice.