THE price for passenger drop-offs at London’s second busiest airport has jumped 40 percent.
That’s a £3 increase from previous charge of £7 and will apply to all drivers entering the drop off zone, excluding Blue Badge holders.
From today London Gatwick will have the highest drop-off fees in the country thanks to the new £10 charge.
The price has steadily increased over the years since it was first introduced in 2021 and was only £5.
It jumped to £6 in 2024 before being increased to £7 just a year later in May 2025.
“Poor old passengers and drivers are getting another blow to the pocket,” complained travel writer Andy Mossack in an interview with BBC Radio Surrey.
“It is disgraceful.”
London Gatwick, which is the busiest single runway airport in Europe, said it was “not a decision they took lightly”.
However, it cited reasons such as the “doubling of business rates” as one of the reasons for the increase in cost.
A spokesperson for Gatwick suggested passengers could use the free shuttle bus if they are dropped of in the long stay car park.
They added: “We also have excellent public transport connectivity at the airport, with passengers able to connect directly with more than 120 train stations.
“Many local bus routes serve the airport 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
Drop off fees have also increased at London Heathrow with its drop off fee increasing from £6 to £7 on January 1.
It is also introducing a strict 10-minute drop off time, with drivers charged £80 if they go over.
And London City, the last of the London airports to allow free drop offs, will be introducing a new charge in 2026 as well.
