Gatwick Airport raises forecourt drop-off charge to jaw dropping £10 from January 2026
- Perry Richardson
- 9 minutes ago
- 2 min read
London Gatwick Airport has announced that it will increase its terminal forecourt drop off charge to £10 from 6 January 2026, up from the current £7 fee. The change applies to vehicles using the airport’s designated forecourt drop off zones directly outside its terminals.
The airport confirmed the increase in a public notice issued via its official communications channels, stating that the £10 charge will represent the new minimum cost for using the forecourt drop off areas. Payment can be made online, over the phone or through a pre registered AutoPay account.
Gatwick said alternatives remain available for passengers and drivers seeking to avoid the charge. Drop offs will continue to be free of charge in the airport’s Long Stay car parks, where passengers can use shuttle services to reach the terminals.
Blue Badge holders will also remain exempt from the forecourt drop off fee.
London Gatwick Airport confirms a £3 increase to its terminal forecourt drop off fee, with the new price taking effect from 6 January 2026.
The revised pricing will have direct implications for taxi, private hire and chauffeur operators serving the airport, particularly those whose business models rely on quick terminal access.
Forecourt charges are typically passed on to passengers, adding to overall journey costs at a time when airport access fees across the UK remain under scrutiny from both passengers and the trade.
Gatwick is not alone in applying or increasing access charges, but they are the first to reach the mammoth £10 milestone. Most major UK airports have introduced forecourt fees over recent years, citing congestion management, environmental objectives and the need to manage limited kerbside space. Charges and exemption policies vary widely between airports, creating operational complexity for national and regional operators.
The timing of the increase, set for early January 2026, will give operators little time to adjust pricing structures and update customer communications. Industry representatives have previously warned that repeated increases risk normalising high access fees and shifting more cost pressure onto drivers and passengers.
Gatwick has not provided further detail on whether additional changes to its access or charging model are planned beyond the 2026 increase.
