Another airport cracks down on anyone dropping off travelers by car

British airports Heathrow and Gatwick, both among the 10 busiest airports in Europe, are also struggling to reduce traffic flow in areas where drivers drop off passengers.

Following a similar decision at Heathrow (LHR) earlier this year, Gatwick Airport (LGW) in West Sussex, south of central London, is also increasing the price of non-stop travel to the airport.

The fare increase, which does not apply to vehicles operated by ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Bolt, will come into force on January 6 and will increase the fee charged to those dropping off friends and family by 43%, from £7 to £10 ($13.37).

This is also a much bigger jump from the £6 to £7 increase imposed for next year at Heathrow, London’s main airport serving flag carriers and mainstream airlines.

“This increase in the drop-off charge is not a decision we have taken lightly, but we are facing a number of increased costs, including our business rates more than doubling in the last Budget,” an airport spokesman said. Statement by BBC and other local media organizations.

Related: A major airport is cracking down on those dropping off passengers

The airport also blamed the higher business rates introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as the reason why the price increase is now being passed on to airport visitors in different ways.

The increases at both Heathrow and Gatwick have been met with strong opposition from locals who regularly visit the airport. They see this as an example of price gouging offered as a “benefit” to passengers or shaming people for not using public transport to help the environment.

“Heathrow’s decision to increase the terminal departure fee to £7 and introduce a strict 10-minute limit is another example of rising airport fees affecting the people who keep our economy going,” Clive Wratten, chief executive of the British Business Travel Association, said in a statement.

“The words ‘Happy New Year’ are unlikely to be uttered by motorists dropping friends and family off at Gatwick in January,” said Rod Dennis, senior policy adviser at British road breakdown service provider RAC. Independent.

“[…] Drivers tell us the main reason they use airport drop-off facilities is to help people with large or heavy luggage; “This can be incredibly impractical on public transport, especially if there are elderly relatives or young children in tow.”