Gatwick defends drop-off fee hike

From 6 January the charge is £10m up a massive 43%.

It would make it the most expensive airport drop off fee in the country.

The airport is blaming higher operational costs and an increase in business rates.

“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, an airport spokesperson said.

“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.”

The airport says the drop off fee can be avoided by dropping passengers off at the long-stay car parks and take a complimentary shuttle bus service to the terminals.

Blue badge holders are exempt from the fee.

It marks a doubling of the fee since Gatwick first introduced it in 2021.

Many other UK airports charge a £7 drop-off fee such as London Stansted and Leeds Bradford.