Stansted: Another UK airport hits drivers with higher drop-off prices

Stansted Airport has increased the cost of drivers dropping off passengers at its terminals.

Drivers stopping for 15 minutes or more will face a charge of £28, while drivers stopping for less than 15 minutes will be charged £10, an increase of £3 on previous charges.

Drivers exceeding 30 minutes in the terminal area risk a £100 Parking Charge Notice; this fee can be reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.

Vehicles re-entering the car park within 30 minutes of their initial entry are charged a fee of £28.

Blue Badge holders are completely exempt from all these new fees.

A spokesman for Stansted Airport said the move would aim to “manage congestion in the terminal and reduce ‘kiss and fly’ traffic, which is a major contributor to road congestion around the airport”.

The statement said that the airport “is required to ensure that at least 50 percent of passengers access the airport by public transport under planning conditions.” It was stated that as the number of passengers increases, this threshold will increase to 54 percent.

“We continue to offer a discount program for local residents living within 10 miles of the airport, as well as free parking and rides for those happy to be dropped off and picked up further from the terminal,” the spokesperson added.

This follows similar price increases for car parks at other airports in the UK.

In December, London’s Heathrow increased drop-off fees from £6 to £7.

It also introduced a maximum stay of 10 minutes before a £40 penalty is imposed.

The Heathrow charge also increased by one pound at the start of 2025, representing a 40 per cent increase since the charge was introduced four years ago.

Heathrow says it has increased the fee to match other leading airports.

Gatwick Airport has also made a significant increase in its drop-off fee, increasing it to £10, which will make it the most expensive airport in the UK.