AIRPORT DROP-OFF CHARGE LEAGUE TABLE: Which UK airports cost taxi drivers the most and where can passengers save money?

Passengers booking an airport taxi this summer could pay significantly different fares depending on which airport they are travelling to, as new RAC analysis highlights a widening gap between the UK’s most and least expensive terminal drop-off charges.

The latest figures show London Gatwick and London Stansted jointly top the list as the UK’s most expensive airports for vehicle drop-offs, charging drivers £10 to access terminal forecourts. Edinburgh and Bristol follow at £8.50, while Leeds Bradford, London City and Bournemouth each charge £8.

For taxi drivers, these fees are an unavoidable part of the journey. Whether the fare is metered or fixed, the airport access charge is typically added to the passenger’s bill, meaning customers travelling to some airports can pay several pounds more before the taxi fare itself is even considered.

London Heathrow, Luton, Birmingham, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton all charge £7, although the time allowed varies considerably.

Heathrow permits no waiting, while Southampton offers up to 20 minutes, making it one of the better value options despite charging the same headline fee.

At the other end of the table, Belfast City remains the cheapest of the UK’s 20 busiest airports, charging £4 for up to 10 minutes. Cardiff Wales costs £4.50, while East Midlands and Belfast International each charge £5. Manchester charges £5.50 for five minutes, and both Newcastle and Liverpool John Lennon charge £6.

While Manchester sits towards the cheaper end based on its headline fee, drivers receive only five minutes before extra charges apply. London City is even more expensive on a time basis, charging £8 for five minutes, making it the highest cost per minute at £1.60.

Get FREE WhatsApp news updates here

The figures also show some airports have held prices steady over the last year. Southampton, Liverpool John Lennon, East Midlands and Belfast City have not increased their charges, while London City introduced a drop-off fee for the first time, adding £8 to the cost of terminal access.

For professional taxi drivers carrying multiple airport passengers each day, the difference between airports can quickly add up. A driver completing several return trips to Gatwick or Stansted will pay almost double the access charges compared with carrying passengers to Belfast City, costs that are generally recovered through the final fare paid by customers.