By JOWENA RILEY, TRAVEL WRITER
Published: 12:41 EDT, 18 March 2026 | Updated: 12:41 EDT, 18 March 2026
A major airport in London is set to increase its drop-off parking charges by almost half tomorrow - becoming the second UK airport to set fees in the double digits.
From 19 March, drivers heading to Stansted Airport will be required to pay £10 instead of £7 for express drop-offs of up to 15 minutes.
For longer stays of up to 30 minutes, drivers will be charged £28.
The airport will have the second-highest drop off fees in the country.
London Gatwick has the most expensive, imposing £10 fees for 10 minute stays.
Blue Badge holders are typically exempt from paying drop-off fees at all UK airports. Those who are required to pay can do so by phone, online or automatically via an AutoPay account.
Naomi Leach, Deputy Editor of Which? Travel said: 'Stansted is the latest airport to increase drop off charges in a fresh blow to travellers, just in time for the Easter holidays.
From 19 March, drivers dropping off loved ones at London Stansted will be required to pay £10 instead of £7 for stays of up to 15 minutes
'These rising fees, combined with strict time limits, will only pile on more stress, frustration and expense for passengers during an already uncertain time for travel.
'Fortunately, there are alternative long stay car parks where you can drop off free of charge at all major UK airports.'
To avoid paying the new fee, travellers flying from Stansted can be dropped off for free at the Mid Stay Car Park and hop on a shuttle bus to the terminal, which takes around seven minutes, according to Head for Points.
The news, announced by Stansted Airport on their official X account on 12 March, already appears to have infuriated drivers heading to Stansted, who shared their thoughts below the post.
One person wrote: 'When the flights are cheaper than the cost to literally stop a car. Got to fund those new WH Smiths somehow eh @StanstedAirport.'
Another said: 'Why is it British airports feel the need to rip customers off? Major airports in Europe don't have a fee for dropping passengers off, so why is it acceptable here (clue: it's not).
'Greedy bosses will probably get a nice fat bonus cheque at the end of the year as a result.'
A third chimed: 'Absolutely disgusting. RIP off fees for NO reason it should be illegal.'
Stansted now shares the crown with Gatwick Airport in being the UK's most expensive airport for drop-off fees
This year alone has seen a wave of increased drop-off fees at UK airports, most notably at London hubs, leaving British travellers furious.
Since the beginning of the year, drivers dropping off or picking up passengers at London Heathrow have seen the cost rise from £6 to £7 for a 10-minute stay.
London Gatwick increased its drop-off fee from £7 to £10 for 10 minutes on 6 January - which would have made it the UK's most expensive airport for drop-off fees if not for Stansted's latest hike.
Edinburgh Airport raised its fee to £6 for a 10-minute stay on January 13, 2025, with additional charges applying for longer stays.
Plus, one London hub completely scrapped free drop-offs - the last airport to offer this in the UK capital.
London City Airport introduced a drop-off charge for all vehicles, which will be implemented from today, January 6, at a cost of £8 for up to five minutes, then £1 per additional minute, with a maximum stay of 10 minutes.
On one Instagram post, viewers commented in outrage at the news, with one saying: 'Honestly, is living in the UK just death by fees and fines?'
On Gatwick's X update regarding the charges, comments were furious, with one saying: 'You are a disgrace to the travelling public!'
Another added: 'Profiteering is alive and well. What a joke. Like there is a viable public transport alternative early in the morning or late at night.'
Gatwick AirportStansted Airport
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Stansted Airport's drop-off fees jump from £7 to £10, matching Gatwick as UK's priciest.
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Rising airport fees add financial stress during peak travel seasons like Easter holidays.
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UK airports now have the world's most expensive drop-off charges, unlike free European hubs.