Fury as FOUR major airports hike much-hated drop-off fees across UK in first week of 2026
FOUR major UK airports have rung in the new year by hiking their drop-off fees.
Nearly all UK airports now charge for kiss and fly parking following Newcastle airport scrapping its free drop-off policy in December.
These include London City Airport, which has introduced a fee for the first time from 2026 – setting an £8 charge for up to five minutes with each additional minute costing £1 until a maximum stay of 10 minutes is reached.
The airport, based in the Royal Docks area of East London, said the measure is intended to maintain efficient access for all users, with Blue Badge holders and black cabs exempt.
Gatwick, the country’s second-busiest airport after Heathrow, became the most expensive for drop-offs by increasing its 10-minute fee from £7 to £10, having only raised it to £7 in May last year.
It attributed the rise to higher costs, including business rates that have more than doubled.
However, it added that it is not aware of any further increases planned for this year.
Elsewhere, Heathrow lifted its charge from £6 to £7 on New Year’s Day, while also bringing in a new 10-minute rule for drop-off areas.
It warned that drivers who stay longer risk a fine, while also confirming that no additional increases are planned for the rest of the year.
Finally, Bristol increased its fee from £7 to £8.50 for up to 10 minutes.
Stays between 10 and 20 minutes rose from £9 to £10.50.
Blue Badge holders can still use the drop-off car park for an extended 40-minute stay, but that cost has also gone up, from £7 to £8.50.
This comes as the government plans to give councils in England simpler, stronger powers to stop cars parking on pavements across wider areas.
At the moment, councils usually have to use a Traffic Regulation Order – a slow, complicated legal process often limited to one street at a time.
But under the new approach, they will be able to bring in area-wide bans more easily and can also allow sensible exemptions where a bit of pavement parking helps traffic flow on narrow streets.