The government has committed to a review of UK airport drop-off charges. Ministers promised in mid-October 2026 to look at the "kiss and fly" fees, after RAC research found the average charge at the UK's 20 busiest airports had climbed by about a third in a year, to £7. Nothing changes at the kerb yet: the review doesn't cap fees, and if the bill passes in its current form the findings are due within 12 months of Royal Assent.
On the RAC's summer 2026 figures, Gatwick charges £10 for 10 minutes and Stansted £10 for 15. Here's what we know about the planned review, what the 20 busiest airports were charging, and the free options worth checking before you travel.
What the government has announced
The Department for Transport confirmed the review in the week of 14 October. A spokesperson said the aviation minister had "just this week committed to launch a review of drop-off charges at UK airports – because it is vital to ensure travel remains accessible and that passengers are treated fairly", adding: "In the meantime, we hope airports exercise restraint on rises, particularly where there are limited public transport alternatives" (The Mirror via AOL).
The review sits in the Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill, which started in the House of Lords. If enacted as it stands, Clause 7 would require the Secretary of State to review drop-off charges, publish the findings and lay them before both Houses of Parliament.
On 20 October, at the Commons committee stage, transport minister Keir Mather moved a government amendment giving the review 12 months after Royal Assent instead of six. MPs agreed it. A Liberal Democrat proposal to publish plans for a £5 cap within six months was opposed by the government, which argued it would decide the outcome before the evidence was in (TaxiPoint).
In plain terms: the bill orders a review, not a price cut. It doesn't cap fees, change current charges or promise taxis a different rate. The bill still has to pass, and the review itself doesn't require airports to change their fees.
The scope hasn't been formally set. According to the Mirror, it could look at affordability, accessibility, how airports spend the money they raise, and whether the charges really push people onto public transport.
What UK airports charge for drop-off in 2026
These are the RAC's summer 2026 figures for the 20 busiest UK airports, as published by Auto Express. Prices move, so check the airport's own website before you set off.
| Airport | Drop-off fee | Time allowed |
|---|---|---|
| London Gatwick | £10.00 | 10 mins |
| London Stansted | £10.00 | 15 mins |
| Edinburgh | £8.50 | 10 mins |
| Bristol | £8.50 | 10 mins |
| Leeds Bradford | £8.00 | 10 mins |
| London City | £8.00 | 5 mins |
| Bournemouth | £8.00 | 30 mins |
| London Heathrow | £7.00 | Drop and go only |
| London Luton | £7.00 | 10 mins |
| Birmingham | £7.00 | 15 mins |
| Glasgow | £7.00 | 15 mins |
| Aberdeen | £7.00 | 15 mins |
| Southampton | £7.00 | 20 mins |
| Newcastle | £6.00 | 10 mins |
| Liverpool John Lennon | £6.00 | 10 mins |
| Manchester | £5.50 | 5 mins |
| Belfast International | £5.00 | 10 mins |
| East Midlands* | £5.00 | 15 mins |
| Cardiff | £4.50 | 10 mins |
| Belfast City | £4.00 | 10 mins |
*At the 20 October committee debate, Labour MP Amanda Hack said East Midlands had since raised its rapid drop-off charge to £8 for 10 minutes, from £5 for 15 minutes.
Per minute, London City is the steepest at about £1.60, followed by Manchester (£1.10), Gatwick (£1), Edinburgh and Bristol (85p) and Leeds Bradford (80p), according to the RAC's July analysis reported by Motoring Research.
How fast the fees have risen
The RAC found that 16 of the 20 busiest airports had put their drop-off prices up in the 12 months to summer 2026. The average rose by £1.70 to £7. Only Liverpool John Lennon, East Midlands, Belfast City and Southampton held prices for the summer, though East Midlands has moved since.
Cardiff shows the trend at a smaller scale: £3 in April 2026, £4.50 by October. In the RAC's survey, four in five drivers called the charges a "rip-off".
The RAC also points abroad. None of the EU's ten busiest airports charge drivers to drop passengers off, according to its analysis.
Why airports say they charge
Stansted gave Auto Express its reasoning. Its Express Set Down charge was brought in in 2012 to tackle "kiss and fly" journeys, which it called "the least sustainable way of accessing the airport, involving four car journeys per flight", and fewer cars at the terminal front helps manage congestion, the airport said.
The money matters too. Karen Dee, chief executive of trade body AirportsUK, said money raised through premium services forms "a part of the airport business model", and argued that UK airports are mostly privately owned and fully taxed, unlike many publicly owned, subsidised airports overseas.
Critics question how realistic the alternatives are. Hack told MPs that only 9% of East Midlands passengers use public transport to reach the airport. Labour MP Jessica Toale said Bournemouth's charge had risen to £8 this year.
The political row
The announcement drew fire from the opposition. Conservative shadow transport secretary Richard Holden called it "yet another shameless U-turn by Labour", saying ministers had whipped parliamentarians to oppose a review in July. The Business Travel Association wants more than a review: its chief executive, Clive Wratten, has called for a £3 cap, charges only at peak times, 50% off for electric cars and one charge per day.
How to avoid or reduce airport drop-off fees
- Use the free option. UK airports typically offer free drop-off in a mid- or long-stay car park linked to the terminal by bus. It takes longer, so allow for it. Belfast City, for example, says it has always offered 10 minutes free, using a dedicated drop-off area in its Long Stay car park, a 5-10 minute walk from the terminal.
- Pay on time. At Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted and Luton, you must pay by midnight the day after. Miss it and you can face a parking charge of up to £100.
- Watch for barrierless zones. The RAC warns that drivers who miss the signs at "park now, pay later" zones, or forget to pay afterwards, can be hit with a £100 charge. Set a reminder before you drive off.
- Check the time limit. The RAC recorded £5.50 for five minutes at Manchester. Look up the current price and time allowed before a long goodbye.
- Check taxi quotes. Taxis usually pass the drop-off fee on to passengers, so ask whether your quoted fare includes it.
What happens next
The bill still has to finish its passage through Parliament. If it's enacted as it stands, the government will have 12 months from Royal Assent to publish the review. That could feed into a cap or other rules, but nothing in the current text commits ministers to either.
Until then, the cost of a lift to the airport is set by each airport. The government has asked operators to "exercise restraint" on further rises, which is a request rather than a rule.
Fees quoted are the RAC's summer 2026 figures as reported in October 2026 and may have changed. This article is general information, not financial advice.
