Luton Airport drop-off fees rise by 80% in 2 years according to new figures
The cost of dropping passengers off at London Luton Airport has risen by 80 per cent in two years, making it one of the highest fees in the UK.
The rise means Luton Airport now has the third-highest drop-off charge among UK airports, according to airportdropoffcharges.co.uk.
The airport’s Drop Off Zone cost £5 in 2024, but has risen by 80 per cent, with drivers now paying £9 for up to 12 minutes, followed by a charge of £1 per minute. The maximum stay is 30 minutes.
The increase is the largest recorded among the 29 UK airports tracked by the independent airport charge tracker.
Only Gatwick and Stansted are more expensive, charging £10 for passenger drop-offs. Luton’s charges is also higher than Heathrow, where drivers pay £7, and Manchester, where the fee is £5.50.
The Drop Off Zone at Luton Airport is barrier-free, with cameras automatically recording vehicle number plates.
Drivers must pay online by midnight the following day – and those who fail to pay or stay beyond the 30-minute maximum face a £95 enforcement charge, reduced to £55 if paid within 14 days.
Rick Tipp, who runs airportdropoffcharges.co.uk, said: “Luton has gone from £5 to £9 in just two years – that’s the fastest-rising drop-off charge anywhere in the UK, and it now costs more to stop for twelve minutes at Luton than at almost any other airport in the country.
“What catches people out is that there’s no barrier and nothing to pay on the day. A camera reads your plate and you’ve got until midnight the next day to pay online – forget, and a £95 charge follows you home.
“The bit most people miss is that Luton’s Long Stay car park gives you two hours free with a shuttle, so there’s a way to drop someone off at Luton for nothing if you’re not in a rush.”
The increase comes as drop-off charges continue to rise across UK airports, with the average charge now £6.51, according to the tracker. Only Cornwall Newquay and Humberside remain free for terminal drop-offs.
A spokesperson from London Luton Airport said: “London Luton Airport offers a range of parking options, including up to two hours' free in our Long Stay Car Park. Our chargeable Drop-Off and Pick-Up zone provides quick and convenient access to the terminal building.
“This forms part of our wider approach to managing congestion around the airport and encouraging greater use of public transport, in line with binding national and local targets to increase the proportion of journeys made by sustainable modes of transport.”
They added: “LLA continues to invest in initiatives designed to make bus, coach and rail travel more accessible, affordable, and attractive for passengers, which have included, funding free local bus travel during August, £2 coach fares and other improvements to public transport connectivity, including the Luton Airport Express Rail service”.
Luton council-owned company Luton Rising, was contacted for comment but has not yet responded.