Sharp increases in airport drop-off charges adding to cost of airport taxi journeys, leaving cabbies and passengers out of pocket
- Perry Richardson
- 50 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Airport drop-off charges have become another unavoidable cost for taxi drivers, with new RAC analysis showing fees at the UK’s busiest airports have risen by around a third in the past year. As airports continue increasing the cost of accessing terminals, the additional expense is increasingly being passed on through passenger fares.
The average charge across the UK’s 20 busiest airports has climbed from £5.30 last summer to £7 today, with 16 airports increasing their prices over the last 12 months. While private motorists may only encounter the fees occasionally, taxi and private hire drivers making multiple airport trips each day can see the costs quickly accumulate.
London Gatwick and London Stansted now charge £10 for terminal drop-offs, while Edinburgh and Bristol each charge £8.50. Leeds Bradford, London City and Bournemouth all charge £8, with London City becoming the most expensive on a per-minute basis after introducing an £8 fee for stays of up to five minutes.
For taxi passengers, these airport access charges are often unavoidable. Most licensed taxi drivers simply add the airport fee to the metered fare or agreed fixed price, meaning every increase at the terminal feeds directly into the overall cost of the journey. Unlike other operating costs that can sometimes be absorbed by drivers, airport access charges are difficult to avoid when passengers expect to be dropped close to departures.
The issue is particularly significant for drivers who specialise in airport work. Several return trips each day can generate substantial access costs before fuel, vehicle finance, insurance and maintenance are even considered. As the cost of doing business continues to rise, airport charges have become another factor pushing fares upwards.
The RAC highlighted that all of the UK’s 20 busiest airports now charge drivers for terminal drop-offs. Before the pandemic in 2019, six major airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, still offered free drop-off areas close to terminals. The organisation also noted that many leading international airports, including those in Atlanta, Dubai, Shanghai and Istanbul, continue to provide free terminal drop-offs.
Another concern for professional drivers is the growing use of barrier-free payment systems. Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted and Luton require drivers to pay online or by phone by midnight the following day. Missing the payment deadline can result in a parking charge notice of up to £100, creating additional administrative burdens for drivers who regularly visit airports.
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: “It’s disappointing to see so many airports charging so much for what many regard as a simple act of kindness in dropping off family and friends.”
He added that airports should not use their position to impose what he described as “farewell fees”, particularly when many of the world’s busiest airports continue to offer free drop-off facilities.
For the licensed taxi industry, the latest increases reinforce a wider challenge. With vehicle finance, insurance, maintenance and operating expenses all remaining high, airport access charges have become another fixed cost that ultimately finds its way onto passengers’ bills. As airports continue reviewing their charging structures each year, drivers are likely to face further pressure to recover those costs through the price of an airport journey.
