Gatwick Airport: Busy London airport to hike price of drop-off parking fee this week - the new cost and how to pay

Gatwick Airport will increase its drop-off fees this week in what the airport hopes will help reduce congestion and encourage passengers to use public transport to reach the airport. The fee to enter designated zones at the North and South Terminals will rise from £5 to £6 on Friday 5 January.

A Gatwick spokesperson said the increase will support investment in sustainable transport. A notice on the Gatwick Airport website reads: “Our forecourt drop-off charge is changing. From January 5, the minimum charge to use the designated drop-off zones in the North and South Terminals will be £6.”

A Gatwick spokesperson added “While we have increased our drop-off charge on the forecourt, passengers can still get dropped off for free in the long-stay car park, with a free shuttle bus to the terminal. Blue Badge holders remain exempt from the charge. 

“This will help reduce congestion, allow us to reinvest in sustainable transport - as we have already done with the doubling of the Gatwick-Reading train service and introduction of the local Metrobus hydrogen fleet - and encourage more passengers and staff to use public transport to reach the airport, to achieve our aim for 60 percent of journeys to and from the airport to be zero or ultra-low emissions by 2030.”

Listed below are the new drop-off charge rates at the airport: 

• £6 for 10 minutes

• £1 for each additional minute up to 20 minutes

• There is a maximum daily charge of £25 and a maximum length of stay of 30 minutes

Blue badge holders are exempt from the drop-off charge and can register their vehicles. If passengers want to spend more time at the airport they are advised to park in the Short Stay car parks or park in the Long Stay car parks for free for two hours with a free shuttle bus supplied to the terminals.

How to pay the drop-off charge

The drop-off charge must be paid by midnight the night after you use the designated drop-off zones. You can register your vehicle for an auto pay account before visiting London Gatwick. 

If you don't pay, you risk receiving a Parking Charge Notice (PCN). You can pay online or over the phone.

London Stansted continues to charge the most for its drop-off parking with an initial charge of £7 for 15 minutes and £25 for over 15 mins. London Luton Airport terminal drop off charge is a £5 fee (for 10 minutes) that applies to all vehicles dropping off passengers at the designated Priority Drop Off Zone closest to the terminal building. Heathrow charges £5 charge every time a vehicle enters the terminal drop-off areas.