Airport drop-off charges UK 2026: review after one-third rise
Ministers have committed to a review of airport drop-off fees after the RAC found the average charge rose by a third to £7. No cap has been announced.
Key points
- The Department for Transport confirmed a review of airport drop-off charges on 14 October 2026.
- RAC research found 16 of the 20 busiest UK airports raised fees, with the average up £1.70 to £7.
- Gatwick and Stansted now charge £10, and all 20 busiest airports charge for terminal drop-offs.
- The scope is unconfirmed, no price cap has been announced and the review is expected to take about 12 months.
Airport drop-off charges in the UK have risen by about a third in a year, and the government has committed to a review. The Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed it on 14 October, after RAC analysis found 16 of the 20 busiest airports had raised their so-called “kiss and fly” fees. The average charge is now £7, up £1.70, according to the RAC.
The change affects anyone who is driven to a terminal. Taxi and private hire passengers are affected too, because the fees are generally added to their fares, according to Wales Online.
Airport drop-off fees increase UK-wide, with £10 now the top rate
Gatwick and Stansted are the most expensive, both up from £7 to £10, according to the RAC analysis reported by the BBC. TTG Media reported that Gatwick’s rise took effect in December 2025 and Stansted’s in March 2026. London City introduced a charge in 2026 and, at £8 for five minutes, is the dearest per minute at £1.60, on our calculation. All 20 of the busiest airports now charge, whereas six offered free terminal drop-offs before the pandemic, according to ADS Advance.
| Airport | Last year | Now | Rise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gatwick | £7 | £10 | £3 (42.9%) |
| Stansted | £7 | £10 | £3 (42.9%) |
| Edinburgh | £6 | £8.50 | £2.50 (41.7%) |
| Bournemouth | £5 | £8 | £3 (60%) |
| Belfast International | £3 | £5 | £2 (66.7%) |
Percentages are our calculation from the RAC figures. For a driver who drops someone at Gatwick three times a year, that is £30 rather than £21, an extra £9. Time limits differ: Gatwick allows 10 minutes, Stansted 15, and Stansted charges £28 for 16 to 30 minutes, according to Wales Online.
UK airport terminal fees 2026: what each side says
The RAC says drivers are angry. “Four-in-five drivers we’ve surveyed believe they are a ‘rip-off’, with just one-in-10 understanding why airports charge what they do,” said senior policy officer Rod Dennis. He added that none of the 10 busiest airports in the European Union charge for drop-offs, according to the RAC.
Clive Wratten, chief executive of the Business Travel Association, welcomed the review. “Up to £10 for a few minutes at the kerb is a lot to ask of travellers, particularly when public transport is not always a practical alternative,” he said.
AirportsUK chief executive Karen Dee defended the fees. She said airports offer “a range of options for those travelling to terminals, including free drop-off points”, and that premium services help support the widest variety of flights. She also said overseas airports are typically publicly owned and subsidised, while UK airports are generally privately owned. The Aviation Environment Federation has previously defended the fees as a way to reduce congestion and air pollution, the BBC reported. ADS Advance estimated the revenue at £300 million a year.
Government review of airport drop-off costs: what happens next
The DfT said it was “vital to ensure travel remains accessible and that passengers are treated fairly”. It also said: “We hope airports exercise restraint on rises, particularly where there are limited public transport alternatives.” The scope has not been confirmed, but it is understood it could cover affordability, accessibility, how airports use the revenue and whether the charges push people towards public transport.
Reports differ on timing. ADS Advance said the review is expected to take 12 months, which would put any findings around October 2027. TTG Media reported that an original six-month timetable is likely to be extended. The government has not announced restrictions or said the review will lead to statutory price controls.
This would be a change of approach. According to ADS Advance, the Civil Aviation Authority does not specifically regulate drop-off charges. Then aviation minister Mike Kane said in 2025 that charging was “a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business to manage and justify”, and in June Keir Mather said the DfT did not plan to discuss above-inflation rises with the Competition and Markets Authority.
Your questions answered
Why are airport drop-off charges increasing in the UK?
Airports say the money forms part of their business model and helps manage traffic and pollution. The RAC argues drivers do not understand the charges and that overseas airports often offer free drop-off.
How much have airport fees risen in 2026?
The RAC found the average rose by £1.70 to £7, about a third, between last summer and this year. Some airports rose by more, such as Bournemouth, from £5 to £8.
Can you avoid airport drop-off charges in the UK?
Often, yes. UK airports typically offer free drop-off in mid- or long-stay car parks linked to terminals by bus, according to Wales Online. That costs time, and taxi passengers will usually still see the fee in their fare.
How this article was produced
This story was researched, written and fact-checked by the Reported.News AI newsroom and edited by Agatha Ives, our AI Politics desk editor. Every claim is checked against the sources listed below. Our Editors, Jack Shaw, James Smith, Matthew Price and Suzy Eaton, oversee everything we publish. Read how we report.
Verification status
Sources (4)
- New airport drop-off fees update as UK government issues warning (Wales Online, 15 Oct 2026)
- Airport drop-off charges to be reviewed after fees soar by a third in a year (TTG Media, 15 Oct 2026)
- Airport drop-off charges to be reviewed after sharp increase (BBC News, 14 Oct 2026)
- UK airport drop-off charges face government review (ADS Advance, 15 Oct 2026)
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Desk View · Opinion · Agatha Ives (AiPolitics)
The review puts the question of drop-off charges on the government's agenda, but it is unclear how quickly it will change what drivers pay. If it takes 12 months and no cap is introduced, charges could rise again before it reports. Publishing how the estimated £300 million a year raised from drop-offs is spent would help settle a dispute between airports and drivers over whether the money serves passengers. Until then, the free long-stay options remain a practical way to avoid the fee.
Opinion from our AI politics desk, based on the verified facts above.
Should the government cap airport drop-off charges at UK airports?