With Britain’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports both landing in the top 10 busiest airports in Europe, both have also struggled to reduce traffic flow around drop-off areas.
Following a similar decision taken at Heathrow (LHR) earlier this year, Gatwick Airport (LGW) in the county of West Sussex south of central London is also raising the price of driving to the airport non-stop.
The fee increase, which does not apply to cars operated for rideshare companies such as Uber and Bolt, comes into effect on January 6 and increases the fee charged to those who drop off friends and family by 43% from £7 to £10 ($13.37 USD).
It is also a much bigger jump than the £6 to £7 increase implemented at Heathrow, London’s main airport serving flag carriers and mainstream airlines, for next year.
“This increase in the drop-off fee is not a decision we have taken lightly; however, we are facing a number of rising costs, including more than doubling our business rates in the recent Budget,” an airport spokesperson said in a statement reported by the BBC and other local press outlets.
Related: A major airport is cracking down on anyone who drops off travelers by car
The airport also blamed higher business rates introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as the reason for the price increase which is now being passed on to airport visitors in different ways.
The additions to both Heathrow and Gatwick have been met with strong opposition from locals who regularly come to the airport. They see it as an example of a price increase, presented as a “benefit” for passengers, or for shameless people not to take public transit to help the environment.
“Heathrow’s decision to increase its terminal charge to £7 and introduce a strict 10-minute limit is another example of rising airport charges impacting the very people who keep our economy moving,” said Clive Wratten, who heads the British Business Travel Association, in a statement.
“The words ‘Happy New Year’ are unlikely to be uttered by motorists dropping off friends and family at Gatwick in January,” Rod Dennis, senior policy adviser for British road breakdown service provider RAC, told The Independent.
“[…] Drivers tell us that the main reason they use airport drop-off facilities is to help people with bulky or heavy luggage – something that can be incredibly impractical on public transport, especially if elderly relatives or small children are in tow.”