Drivers dropping off passengers at UK airports are facing significantly higher costs this summer, as a new analysis by the British motoring service RAC reveals that sixteen of the country’s twenty busiest airports have raised their fees. The average charge has climbed by £1.70 (€2) to £7 (€8.20) compared to the same period last year—a rise of roughly a third.
The latest airport to increase its levy is London Stansted, the third-busiest airport serving the capital. Drivers using the express drop-off zone for up to 15 minutes now pay £10 (€12), up from £7 (€8.20). This makes Stansted the second most expensive airport in the UK for short-term drop-offs, behind only London Gatwick, which raised its fee to £10 earlier this year. For longer stays of up to 30 minutes at Stansted, the charge has jumped to £28 (€32.50).
Widespread Increases Across the UK
The trend extends well beyond London. In Scotland, AGS Airports, which operates both Glasgow and Aberdeen airports, increased drop-off fees to £7 (€8.20) for 15-minute access in February, citing rising operational costs. At Glasgow Airport, drivers who exceed the 15-minute limit face a premium charge upon exit. Bristol Airport began charging £8.50 (€10.20) for a 10-minute stay in its Drop Off & Pick Up car park and the nearby Short Stay car park at the start of the year.
Other London airports are also expensive: Luton charges £7 for 10 minutes, London City charges £8 (€9.60), and Heathrow charges £7 but requires drivers to drop off and leave immediately without waiting. Manchester Airport costs £5.50 (€6.45) but allows only a five-minute stay, while Leeds charges £8 for 10 minutes. Only a handful of airports, such as Birmingham and Inverness, still offer free drop-off options—Birmingham provides a free 10-minute window, and Inverness allows up to 15 minutes at no cost.
The price hikes have frustrated travellers, particularly those who rely on cars because public transport is impractical, especially at airports outside London. Clive Wratten, chief executive of the Business Travel Association, told the BBC that airports were “pulling the easiest revenue lever” by increasing parking fees. “Pricing people out at the kerbside does not suddenly make public transport viable—it just pushes more cost onto workers, businesses and the taxi community,” he said.
One comment on Business Traveller described the situation as “a national disgrace that should be declared illegal.”
Continental Europe Offers Free Alternatives
The contrast with continental Europe is stark. Many major airports across the continent still provide free or low-cost kiss-and-fly zones. At Venice Marco Polo Airport, drivers can park for up to 20 minutes directly outside the terminal at no charge. Milan Malpensa offers a free waiting area between terminals one and two for up to 60 minutes. Ljubljana’s kiss-and-fly zone is free for 10 minutes, as are the drop-off zones at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Orly.
This disparity highlights a broader divergence in airport pricing strategies. While UK airports appear to be capitalising on captive demand, their continental counterparts often view free drop-off as a standard service. For travellers, the difference can be significant—especially for families or those travelling with heavy luggage.
Consumer website MoneySavingExpert has outlined ways to avoid the high fees at UK airports. At Bristol, a free one-hour waiting zone is available near the Silver Zone car park, with frequent shuttle buses to the terminal. For Glasgow, drivers can use the long-stay car park, where waiting is free for up to an hour; it is a 10-minute walk to the terminal, or a free shuttle bus takes seven minutes. At Heathrow, drop-offs of up to 29 minutes are free in the various park-and-ride car parks, with free bus transfers to the terminals.
As summer travel peaks, the issue is likely to remain a sore point for passengers. The RAC’s analysis underscores a growing trend that many see as a tax on convenience, while Europe’s airports continue to offer a more welcoming approach to those simply dropping off loved ones.
