Overview

• Research from Confused.com shows the average cost for four days of short-stay parking at UK airports has reached £93.90, with London City Airport peaking at £189
• Luton Airport now charges £5 for five minutes and £1 per additional minute in its drop-off zone, making a ten-minute stop more expensive than a stay at the Ritz hotel
• Heathrow raised its drop-off fee from £5 to £6 on January 1 and Gatwick increased its from £6 to £7 for ten minutes on May 2, following similar hikes at other major hubs
• Airports maintain that higher parking and drop-off charges are essential to control traffic flow and fund greener access links ahead of planned expansions
• Consumer groups warn that steep fees risk pricing out travellers and note that fewer than one in four holidaymakers compare cheaper taxi fares or off-site parking before booking