Airport drop-off price rises to £28 for 15 minutes

The fee for vehicle drop-offs directly outside the terminal at London Stansted Airport has increased to £28 for stays between 15 and 30 minutes.

Rates for vehicles stopping for under 15 minutes have also increased, by 40%, from £7 to £10.

The airport, which wanted to encourage travellers to use public transport, said "kiss and fly" stops were the least environmentally friendly, requiring four car journeys per flight.

However, Essex-based taxi driver Matt Malone, 54, said the increase was "absolutely disgusting" and remembered it being free 15 years ago when he started the job.

Malone from Tiptree visited the terminal up to five times a day during the holiday season and described the move as a "cash cow".

"It was bad enough paying £7, and for it to go up from £7 to £10 is just outrageous," he said.

"It's very frustrating to think that the drop off can sometimes take 30 seconds because I do a lot of business flyers, and I basically take no luggage."

In December 2024, Stansted improved the speed of paying for drop-offs by swapping its barriers with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).

It also allowed an hour of free parking in their mid-stay car park, where a regular, 24/7 shuttle bus takes passengers to the terminal for free in seven minutes.

However, Malone argued that this option can be inconvenient for those with kids, heavy luggage or in rainy conditions.

An express charge of £10 makes Stansted the joint most expensive in the country, along with London Gatwick.

Travel vlogger Tayo Jaiyesimi said it is "not really justifiable" considering it is less busy.

The Essex airport was the 4th busiest in 2025, behind Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester Airport, according to Travel SOS.

However, it is working on increasing its capacity to 51 million visitors within the next few years.

Speaking to Sonia Watson on BBC Essex, Jaiyesimi, 41, from Chelmsford, said she understood the environmental intent, but contested that public transport is not "always that reliable".

"Especially when you're rushing for that flight, then there's a delay, it could just change whether you make it or not," she said.

"I've done a lot of running in the airport sometimes when things have been cut fine."

She said holidaymakers will "definitely" start factoring in this new cost when deciding which airport they fly from.

Clive Wratten, from the Business Travel Association, told the BBC that these increases are an example of airports "pulling the easiest revenue lever".

Jo Rhodes, senior researcher on the travel team at Which? agreed, calling it "a poor show all round".

She said the idea of public transport is one thing, but another in practice.

"The buses are totally irregular; you can't rely on them," she said.

"It's all very well saying that, but actually the reality is quite awkward and difficult for a lot of people, and these increased charges are just adding more stress, frustration and expense to travellers just in time for the Easter holidays.

She added that disabled users were now worse off.

"Blue badge holders are exempt from the charge at Gatwick and Heathrow, but not at Stansted - So, they're going to be hit with this charge as well," she continued.

A spokesperson at London Stansted Airport said "[We] are proud to be the UK's number one airport for public transport use with nearly 50% of passengers using train, coach or bus to travel to and from the terminal.

"We are committed to going even further, with plans underway to support a number of new services across the regions we serve.

"Since being introduced in 2012, Express Set Down charges have been designed to tackle 'kiss and fly' journeys, which are the least sustainable way of accessing the airport...Reducing the number of cars accessing the space immediately in front of the terminal also helps manage congestion in a capacity-restricted area."

They also pointed out that locals living within 10 miles of the airport pay a discounted rate to park.

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.