Industry anger as Gatwick Airport again hikes parking drop-off fees

Gatwick Airport’s decision to raise airport drop-off charges again has prompted an angry reaction from private hire operators and travel industry bodies.

Gatwick Airport’s drop-off fees will rise by £1 to £7 from May 2. Gatwick Airport CEO Stewart Wingate said the increase was designed to “encourage” customers to travel by public transport.

Gatwick needs to increase passenger use of public transport by 5.4% in order to gain Government approval for plans to upgrade its emergency runway to a full-use runway, which will allow the airport to handle a further 100,000 flights a year.

But Clive Wratten, CEO of the British Travel Association, responded angrily to the move, saying: “Drop-off charges are for revenue generation and nothing else, and an easy win for the airports. We need to keep airports accountable.”

“UK airports seemed to survive okay without drop off charges until 2021, in Gatwick’s case. Gatwick is not alone in fleecing British and overseas travellers with this ever-increasing drop off charge. The majority of UK airports are at it as they all know us good old Brits will whinge but carry on.”

Zamir Dreni, general secretary of the App Drivers & Couriers Union (ADCU), accused the airport of treating the public as “a cash cow”.

“In practice, where is the public transport when I land past midnight?,” he said, adding that taxis might be the only option for people with luggage and children.

BTA’s Wratten pointed out that on May 1, Gatwick had 39 flights due to depart on or before 6.30am with the earliest departure being 5.25, which would mean check-in from 3:25. “Imagine getting a train from anywhere other than Victoria to get there at 3:25 in the morning. So 39 flights before 6:30am with 180 seats on each – that’s 7,000 passengers all supposed to arrive by train between 03:25 and 04:25am. Now tell me it’s not about profit.”

Greg Mendoza, vice president – international operations at Carey Worldwide Chauffeured Services, added: “As a chauffeur operator, it’s bizarre in the extreme that we are being charged to deliver their own customers.”

Wratten said business travellers were disproportionally impacted by the increase, though all travel consumers are affected. “The response will be all about sustainability and forcing people to travel by train or bus with their children, 4 suitcases and prams. Well if that were true then why would Gatwick be building bigger car parks at the terminal? If this is true then why is there no discount for electric vehicles?”

The last time the Gatwick drop-off fee increased was in early 2024, when it rose from  £5 to £6. Car parking revenue grew in 2024 by 11.3% to £147.8million from £132.8m in 2023, outstripping passenger growth of 5.7%.

Announcing the changes on social media, Gatwick Airport said “Our forecourt drop-off charge is changing from 2 May. The minimum charge to use our designated drop-off zones will increase by £1 to £7. You can pay online, over the phone, or by setting up an AutoPay account. You can still drop off for free in the Long Stay car parks. Blue Badge holders remain exempt from the charge.”

The move puts Gatwick on a par with Stansted, which already charges £7 for up to 15 minutes, with anything over 15 minutes costing £25. Gatwick is now more expensive than Heathrow, which hiked its drop-off fee to £6 in January. Luton pick-up and drop-off costs £5 for five minutes. Each further minute costs £1, with a maximum stay of 20 minutes. 

Only London City Airport offers free drop-off at the terminal, but drivers are not allowed to wait.