Gatwick Airport increases drop-off charge to £7 today

London Gatwick Airport has made the decision to increase the charge for it’s passenger drop-off zone from £6 to £7, the new price comes into effect today. 

The airport previously increased the charge from £5 to £6 in January 2024. UK airports have previously been criticised for increasing their drop-off prices saying it is a steep price for the short amount of time it takes to stop, open the boot and say bye to a friend or loved one. 

Speaking on X, Gatwick posted: “While we’ve increased our drop-off charge from £6 to £7, passengers can be dropped off for free in our long-stay car parks, with a free shuttle bus to the terminal. Blue Badge holders remain exempt from the charge. The drop off charge helps to limit the number of cars, reduces congestion and funds a number of sustainable transport initiatives. It also plays a role in encouraging more passengers and staff to use public transport to reach the airport.”

The £1m investment in Metrobus routes is funded by the charge according to the BBC.

Commenting on the recent announcement from Gatwick, Clive Wratten, CEO of the Business Travel Association said: “It’s extremely disappointing to see that Gatwick has decided to raise the forecourt drop-off charge. This comes at the same time as the Chief Executive of Gatwick is talking about increasing car park fees too.

“The airport may cite sustainability or efforts to encourage rail use as the reason for this, but the reality is that it will only continue to place passengers at a greater disadvantage – particularly people with mobility challenges and safety concerns as well as those who might be travelling at times when other public transport is not a viable option.

“Consumers and businesses alike are still facing rising costs so it’s impossible to not see this as a revenue generating exercise rather than a genuine attempt to promote and encourage greener travel. People travelling for work need reliable and flexible access to airports – additional charges such as these merely add unnecessary barriers.

“We urge Gatwick and other airports considering similar moves to prioritise the needs of their passengers and dedicate their resources to creating fair and transport solutions.”

However, airports still face financial difficulties post-pandemic according to a new financial report from ACI World which highlights that despite passenger traffic returning to pre-pandemic levels, airport revenues are still suffering. According to the report passenger traffic in 2023 nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels (5.4% off 2019 numbers), but airport revenues lagged, falling short by 11.4%. Read the news story here.