Gatwick Hikes Passenger Drop-Off Charge to £10

London Gatwick Airport will increase its terminal forecourt charge to £10 on 6 January 2026. This is a £3 increase from the current fee of £7 for using the express drop-off zones.

This hike is part of a wider trend. Heathrow airport is set to raise its charge to £7 starting 1 January. London City Airport will also introduce a drop-off fee later this month. This means no major London airport will be without a drop-off charge.

The Reason Behind the Hike

The airport authorities have given several reasons for this decision. For instance, operational costs have risen sharply and the new charge will help manage these costs. Another key factor is controlling congestion at the airport.

Planning Your Alternatives

You can avoid this charge by using Long Stay car parks. Passengers can take a free shuttle bus from here to reach their terminals. The new fee will affect your Gatwick-bound trip costs. So inform your passengers beforehand.

Impact on Drivers

This increase makes Gatwick the first UK airport with a £10 forecourt fee. This is also the largest single increase ever recorded in the UK airports’ drop-off fees. 

If the airport access fees continue to rise, it will put significant cost pressure on taxi and private hire drivers. This could lead to low availability of airport rides.

Sources: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0kdd71lxnvo

https://www.taxi-point.co.uk/post/gatwick-airport-raises-forecourt-drop-off-charge-to-jaw-dropping-10-from-january-2026