Southampton Airport raises drop-off fee to £7, placing it among UK’s most expensive
- Perry Richardson
- May 4
- 1 min read
Southampton Airport has increased its short stay parking fee for picking up or dropping off passengers to £7 for 20 minutes. The charge applies at the designated Pick Up & Drop Off area located just a minute’s walk from the main terminal.
The latest rise follows a previous increase in July 2023, when the fee rose from £3 to £6. The new charge now brings Southampton in line with London Stansted and Gatwick, which also rank among the highest in the country for short stay airport parking rates.
Drivers entering the short stay zone have their vehicle registration scanned automatically at the barrier. Payment is taken on exit, with contactless and card payments accepted. There are no additional fees for using card payments.
Drivers who stop outside of the authorised parking areas face an £80 penalty. This can be reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days. The airport has confirmed that enforcement will be carried out using cameras.
Taxi and private hire operators serving Southampton Airport have raised concerns over the cost increase. Cabbies say the added charge puts pressure on fares and passengers using the airport.
Passengers using taxi services to and from the airport are likely to see the £7 charge reflected in their journey costs. With many using these services for early or late flights, the higher fee adds to the overall expense of travel.
