Overview
- Motorpoint research published Friday found the average cost of a quick airport drop-off rose to £7.66 in 2026 from £5.51 in 2025, based on charges at the kerbside points closest to terminals.
- Several London hubs introduced the largest changes, with London City adding an £8 kerbside charge, Gatwick raising its 10-minute fee to £10, and Stansted now charging £10 for up to 15 minutes.
- Many airports did not raise their short-stay fees for 2026, including Manchester, Liverpool, East Midlands, Glasgow Prestwick, Cardiff and Teesside, while some regional airports offer short free windows such as Cornwall Airport Newquay’s 10-minute zone.
- Motorpoint motoring journalist Ben Custard urged travellers to check airport websites for cheaper remote drop-off or short-stay parking and warned that drivers have been fined for using petrol stations or hotel car parks instead of official zones.
- The higher kerbside charges add to wider travel cost pressures and are likely to push people toward public transport, longer walks from free drop-off areas or paid short-stay parking, with a knock-on risk of more fines and changed passenger behaviour.