Heathrow Airport planned rise in terminal drop off fees draws criticism from chauffeur sector
- Perry Richardson
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Heathrow Airport’s decision to raise its terminal drop off fee from six to seven pounds and introduce a ten minute maximum stay from the start of 2026 has prompted renewed concerns from operators serving the airport’s busiest passenger hubs.
The change forms part of Heathrow’s wider effort to manage congestion around terminals, but private hire and chauffeur firms say the move further increases operating costs at a time when margins remain tight.
Global chauffeur service Blacklane said the rise effectively places an additional surcharge on drivers supporting airport operations. James Dow, UK and Ireland General Manager at Blacklane, said the decision had once again been taken without direct consultation with the sector. He said the lack of engagement made it harder for operators to plan and maintain service standards for passengers travelling to and from one of Europe’s most important aviation gateways.
Dow added that the continued absence of any incentive or reduced fee for electric vehicles runs counter to public commitments made by airports to support cleaner transport. He said the fee structure gives no recognition to fleets that have invested heavily in EVs to reduce emissions and meet corporate sustainability goals. Heathrow has not publicly indicated whether it will review EV provisions in future rounds of fee-setting.
Blacklane says the 1 January 2026 increase adds financial pressure on professional drivers and lacks industry consultation
Blacklane said professional drivers make a substantial contribution to airport infrastructure by providing predictable, pre booked travel that supports passenger flows. Operators argue that the current fee model does little to reflect the operational demands of chauffeur services, which often require additional time for meet and greet duties and adjustments to pick up schedules caused by flight delays.
The company confirmed that its chauffeur partners will continue to receive full reimbursement for Heathrow drop off charges. Dow stressed that Blacklane would not pass the increased costs on to drivers, noting that maintaining partner earnings was essential to sustaining service reliability during peak travel periods.
The new fee level is expected to influence the cost calculations of private hire, taxi and chauffeur firms working around Heathrow’s terminals, particularly those handling high volumes of transfers. Operators say they will continue to monitor whether other UK airports follow Heathrow’s approach or consider revised pricing frameworks that include EV incentives or more flexible waiting allowances.
Dow said: “As we have previously stated, increasing airport drop off charges and stringent time limits at international hubs like Heathrow airport is essentially adding a hefty surcharge to the private hire and chauffeur industry, and without consultation.
“We continue to urge airports such as Heathrow to engage with the professional driver industry to better understand the true requirements of the professional driver community and our essential contribution to critical infrastructure.
“Despite a further increase in drop-off fees, there is still no adjustment for electric vehicles. This is significantly at odds with public pledges from airports to be more sustainable and bolster their low emissions infrastructure ecosystem.
“We continue to ensure chauffeur partners receive full payment for the cost of drop-off in London. Blacklane's chauffeur partners will not be penalised for airport drop-offs.”
