Heathrow Airport to introduce new 'Terminal Drop Off Charge' from October

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From October 2021, Heathrow will be introducing a charge for vehicles dropping off passengers at its terminal forecourts. A £5 charge per visit will apply to use the designated drop off zones located directly outside the airport terminals.

The Terminal Drop Off Charge will apply to all vehicles entering the forecourts of Heathrow’s terminals, although some exceptions will apply, such as blue badge holders, emergency vehicles, operational vehicles, coaches, colleague buses and motorcycles.

Taxis and private hire cars will not be exempt from the charges.

According to the airport’s website, charges are being brought in to improve air quality and reduce congestion.

They have said the new Terminal Drop-Off Charge replaces their previous plans to introduce a Heathrow Ultra-Low Emissions Zone by 2022 and a Heathrow Vehicle Access Charge ahead of the opening of the third runway, which would have incurred a £10-£15 charge.

Heathrow Airport car parks remain available, where normal charges will apply. This will not impact passenger pick up, which should continue via the car parks, as picking up passengers is not permitted on the terminal forecourts.

A spokesperson for the airport has said: “More details on the scheme, registering your vehicle, and making payments will be published in due course.”