A big change is coming to Gatwick Airport's drop-off from today.
The Sussex airport is increasing its minimum drop-off charge to £10, raising it from the current £7 price.
This change will be enforced from today, January 6, and will make Gatwick the most expensive UK airport for passenger drop-offs.
The charge is applicable for a ten-minute stop, with Gatwick Airport bosses saying it is due to "a number of increasing costs".
How does Gatwick Airport's drop-off charge work?
Gatwick's drop-off fee was first introduced in 2021 and was originally £5.
It later increased to £6 in 2024 and then to £7 later that May.
The minimum £7 charge, which is now increasing to £10, is in place when using the designated drop-off zones in the North and South Terminals.
It must be paid by midnight the day after you use the zones, or drivers may be hit with a Parking Charge Notice (PCN).
Rates are as follows:
- £7 for 10 minutes (increasing to £10 from January 6)
- £1 for each additional minute up to 20 minutes
- There is a maximum daily charge of £27 and a maximum length of stay of 30 minutes
To pay, you can register your vehicle for an AutoPay account with us before visiting London Gatwick, or use the other ways on offer.
You can pay online or over the phone by calling the automated payment line on 0330 174 4503.
Gatwick Airport increasing drop-off charge to £10 from today
The price to pay for using the drop-off service increases to £10 from £7 from January 6.
A spokesperson for Gatwick Airport said: “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.
“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."
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The spokesperson added that passengers could still be dropped off for free in long-stay car parks with a free shuttle bus to the terminal, and Blue Badge holders would remain exempt from the charge.
Multiple other UK airports also currently charge a £7 drop-off fee, including Stansted, Bristol, Leeds Bradford and Southampton.
Heathrow Airport raised its price from £6 to £7 from January 1.
