Airport Drop-Off Fees Soar: Taxi Drivers and Passengers Hit Hard by Record Charges

UK motorists, particularly professional taxi and private hire drivers, are facing unprecedented "kiss and fly" charges at the nation's airports this summer, with analysis revealing that over half of the country's busiest hubs have significantly increased or newly introduced drop-off fees since last year. These soaring costs, in stark contrast to free provisions at many major European airports, are creating a financial burden for both drivers and passengers.

According to new research by the RAC, 11 of the UK's 20 largest airports have hiked their fees, with several now demanding a staggering £7 for even a brief drop-off near terminals. London Gatwick, Stansted, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, and Southampton airports lead this charge, all setting their fee at £7. Elsewhere, major hubs like Heathrow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, and Liverpool have seen a 20% increase, now charging £6 for a 10 to 20-minute stay. Belfast City's rise is the steepest proportional jump, up by a third to £4 for 10 minutes.

London Luton and Manchester airports now hold the dubious distinction of having the highest per-minute rates, costing £5 for a mere five-minute stop. This astonishing figure means that, on a cost-per-minute basis, some airport drop-offs are now more expensive than a return flight from Manchester to Turkey in August, as highlighted by the RAC.

The Heavy Toll on Taxi Drivers

The brunt of these escalating fees often falls directly on the shoulders of taxi and private hire drivers, who frequently make multiple airport trips daily. Unlike private motorists who might only pay the charge occasionally, these fees are a constant, unavoidable overhead for professional drivers.

"We have to pass these charges on every time to the customer," explains Adrian Bridge, a veteran hackney cab driver from Paragon Taxis, reflecting the frustration felt across the industry. "I have a lot of international customers who are disgusted to see how much you have to pay just to drop people. It is not like you are parking your car, you are just dropping someone off. We are bringing their customers to them, and we are having to pass on this charge."

While some taxi companies or individual drivers attempt to incorporate these charges into their fares, the opaque and variable nature of airport fees can lead to confusion and even financial loss for drivers. For instance, at Heathrow, while the terminal drop-off charge increased to £6, some London taxi drivers reportedly faced a conundrum where their tariffs only allowed them to charge passengers £5.20 for this service until a potential upcoming tariff review in April 2025. This leaves drivers out of pocket, absorbing the difference from their already thin margins.

Moreover, the stated purpose of managing congestion and reducing emissions by charging for terminal forecourt access is often undermined by the lack of genuinely convenient free alternatives. While airports, through trade body AirportsUK, claim to offer free drop-off facilities, these are frequently located in distant car parks, necessitating a shuttle bus transfer. As RAC Senior Policy Officer Rod Dennis points out, "The main reason drivers drop off at airports... is to help people with bulky and often heavy luggage." These distant free options become impractical for passengers with mobility issues or large bags, forcing them to rely on taxis, which then incur the very fees designed to deter car use.

A Growing Concern

The proliferation of barrier-less drop-off zones, where payment must be made online, presents another layer of frustration. Drivers, often on tight schedules, risk incurring hefty Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) if they fail to notice the payment requirement or simply forget to pay by the midnight deadline the following day.

Karen Dee, Chief Executive of AirportsUK, defended the charges, stating, "Where fees are charged, this helps airports manage and reduce congestion, noise, carbon emissions and air pollution for local communities, something that they are mandated to do by the government."

However, this justification rings hollow for many within the taxi industry, who feel they are unfairly burdened by a system that extracts revenue from essential transport services without always providing clear, equitable solutions. With London City Airport now standing as the solitary major UK airport offering a free drop-off option directly at the terminal, the call for a more balanced approach to airport access charges is growing louder. The continued escalation of these fees threatens not only the profitability of taxi drivers but also the overall convenience and affordability of air travel for the public.