raised

People are being charged up to £1 a minute, new figures revealed

Four major airports have increased their drop-off charges already this year, delivering a fresh blow to air travellers. Depositing loved ones at some of the UK’s biggest airports has grown more costly, as several facilities have raised their fees this week.

From January 6, Gatwick Airport will boost the cost of its drop-off zones by £3 – pushing the minimum charge up to £10.

London City Airport, amongst the final major hubs not to impose a drop-off fee, will also introduce an £8 charge tomorrow for drop-offs lasting up to 5 minutes, plus an extra £1 per minute for extended stays, capped at a maximum 10-minute drop-off period.

This comes after Heathrow’s drop-off fees rose from £6 to £7 on January 1, whilst Southend airport shifted from no charge to £7 last summer.

Emily Barnett, Travel Expert at Compare the Market, commented: “With multiple London airports increasing passenger drop-off charges this year, the cost of a holiday before travellers have even reached the terminal is on the rise. For families trying to save some cash by being dropped off by a friend or family member, these fees can quickly add an extra, unexpected expense to an already costly trip. While solo travellers will have to shoulder the cost alone, it’s wise to plan ahead and assess whether an alternative travel option would suit.

“Taking public transport to get to the airport could be more cost effective if flight times and the journey route permit. For some travellers, using Park and Ride services at Heathrow and Gatwick may be more convenient as they offer passengers frequent shuttle buses between terminals and off-airport parking services for free.

“The news of price rises serves as a good reminder for holidaymakers to look for savings on other travel expenses where possible. Booking early could help get a better price, while comparing travel insurance deals and taking a ‘buy when you book’ approach means you’re covered before you even set off should you need to cancel for an unforeseen circumstance. Taking the time to weigh up prices and options could make a real difference to the overall cost of a trip.”

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New 2026 airport charges rundown:

London City Airport has ended its reign as the only airport in the capital not charging drivers for dropping off loved ones by introducing an £8 fee. The charge must be paid for parking for up to five minutes – every additional minute after that will cost £1 until you hit the maximum 10-minute stay.

The airport said the fee will help to “maintain efficient access to the forecourt and support the best possible access for everyone”. Blue badge holders and black cabs are exempt from the charge.

Gatwick Airport has become the most expensive airport for drop-offs, increasing its fee from £7 to £10 for 10 minutes.

The airport – Britain’s second busiest after Heathrow – only bumped its charges to £7 in May last year.

It cited rising expenses, including business rates that have more than doubled, as the reason behind the increase.

The airport also informed Money that it was “not aware” of any additional rises planned for this year, or a review of the existing charge.

Guy Hobbs, Which? Travel Expert said: “It’s unsurprising that following Heathrow’s announcement, Gatwick has also pulled the trigger on a drop off price hike in a fresh blow to travellers. These harsh price hikes and oppressive time limits from two of the UK’s busiest airports will only add another layer of stress, frustration and cost to passengers.”

He added: “Fortunately, there are alternative long stay car parks where you can drop off free of charge at all major UK airports.”

London Heathrow bumped its fee from £6 to £7 on New Year’s Day, and brought in a fresh 10-minute rule in drop-off zones, with motorists who overstay facing a penalty.

The airport has stated that no further rises were scheduled for this year.

Bristol Airport lifted its charges from £7 to £8.50 for up to 10 minutes of parking. Motorists staying between 10 and 20 minutes have also witnessed their fee rise from £9 to £10.50.

Blue Badge holders can utilise the drop-off car park for an extended period of 40 minutes, but that will also climb from £7 to £8.50.

Leading medical groups in the United States have raised alarm after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under President Donald Trump took the unprecedented step of cutting the number of vaccines it recommends for children.

Monday’s sweeping decision, which advances the agenda of Trump-appointed Secretary of Health Robert F Kennedy Jr, removes the recommendation for rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal disease and hepatitis A vaccines for children.

It comes as US vaccination rates have been slipping, and the rates of diseases that can be protected against with vaccines, such as measles and whooping cough, are rising across the country, according to government data.

“This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health,” Kennedy said in a statement on Monday.

In response, the American Medical Association (AMA) said it was “deeply concerned by recent changes to the childhood immunisation schedule that affects the health and safety of millions of children”.

“Vaccination policy has long been guided by a rigorous, transparent scientific process grounded in decades of evidence showing that vaccines are safe, effective, and lifesaving,” Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, a doctor and AMA trustee, said in a statement posted on the group’s website.

She pointed out that major policy changes needed “careful review” and transparency, which are lacking in the CDD’s decision.

“When longstanding recommendations are altered without a robust, evidence-based process, it undermines public trust and puts children at unnecessary risk of preventable disease,” she said.

The change was effective immediately and carried out following the approval by another Trump appointee, CDC acting director Jim O’Neill, without the agency’s usual outside expert review.

The changes were made by political appointees, without any evidence that the current recommendations were harming children, Sean O’Leary, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said.

“It’s so important that any decision about the US childhood vaccination schedule should be grounded in evidence, transparency and established scientific processes, not comparisons that overlook critical differences between countries or health systems,” he told journalists.

Protections against those diseases are only recommended for certain groups deemed high risk, or when doctors recommend them in what’s called “shared decision-making”, the new CDC guidance stated.

States, not the federal government, have the authority to require vaccinations for schoolchildren.

But CDC requirements often influence the state regulations, even as some states have begun creating their own alliances to counter the Trump administration’s guidance on vaccines.

Kennedy, the US health secretary, is a longtime vaccine sceptic.

In May, Kennedy announced that the CDC would no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women, a move immediately questioned by public health experts who saw no new data to justify the change.

In June, Kennedy fired an entire 17-member CDC vaccine advisory committee, later installing several of his own replacements, including multiple vaccine sceptics.

In August, he announced that the US is to cut funding for mRNA vaccine development, a move health experts say is “dangerous” and could make the US much more vulnerable to future outbreaks of respiratory viruses like COVID-19.

Kennedy in November also personally directed the CDC to abandon its position that vaccines do not cause autism, without supplying any new evidence to support the change.

Trump, reacting to the latest CDC decision on his Truth Social platform, said the new schedule is “far more reasonable” and “finally aligns the United States with other Developed Nations around the World”.