Gatwick Airport To Raise Drop-Off Fees In The New Year

Gatwick Airport has confirmed that its terminal drop-off charge will jump to £10 from 6 January 2026, marking the second major airport to raise drop-off fees for London based airports this month. Heathrow's move to increase its own charge to £7 from 1 January 2026 broke last week.

For UK travellers heading to Orlando or Paris in 2026, this is another small cost increase to add on when planning Disney holidays from the UK.

Drop-Off Fees Changing at Gatwick

Gatwick says rising operational costs, including a doubling of the airport's business rates, have pushed the airport to increase its minimum fee by £3. It’s the steepest jump since charges were introduced in March 2021. In fact, the increase means that the cost to drop-off at terminals in Gatwick has doubled in just under 5 years.

Key details you need:

• New minimum fee: £10 for up to 10 minutes

• Increase date: 6 January

• Previous rises: £5 (2021) → £6 (2024) → £7 (May 2024)

• Blue Badge holders remain exempt

• Free drop-off is still available in long-stay car parks with a shuttle to terminals

Why This Matters for UK Disney Travellers

With so many families flying from Gatwick for Orlando holidays and Disneyland Paris short breaks, the jump to £10 per car add an unwelcome extra to departure day costs if you’re travelling to the airport by car and looking for a quick drop-off at the terminal building.

Combine this with Heathrow's own fee increase to £7, and London's two largest hubs have both become more expensive for drop-offs within the same fortnight. This is something UK travellers will need to budget for alongside flights, ESTA fees, and holiday packages.

Holiday prices to Disney resorts are quietly creeping up, when you also consider the news of an increase to Air Passenger Duty that will add to flight prices over the next two years.

It also comes as London City prepares to introduce its first-ever drop-off charge later this month, making free curbside access increasingly rare across the capital's airports.

Why Airports Say the Fees Are Rising

Gatwick argues the move supports:

• Funding rising operational costs

• Managing terminal congestion

• Encouraging more passengers to use public transport

• Supporting sustainable travel initiatives

While the government has capped rate hikes for major properties (including airports) at 30%, officials say that without intervention, some bills could have increased by up to 500%, adding further pressure on airport finances.

Planning Advice for Your Next Trip

If you're heading to Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris, or any other holiday via Gatwick consider these options to avoid the £10, £1 a minute, drop-off fee:

• Use the long-stay car park for free drop-off and jump on the shuttle

• Book a private-hire taxi that includes airport fees

• Take rail services: Gatwick is one of the UK's best-connected airports

If you prefer to be dropped kerbside, factor the slight cost increase into your budget.

For travellers already juggling rising flight prices and holiday costs, the drop-off increases won’t be make or break your budget, but it shows that having a little leeway in a travel budget is wise.

Magic in a Minute

Gatwick's drop-off fee will rise to £10 from 6th January, following Heathrow's increase to £7. This means UK holidaymakers flying to Disney destinations face higher airport drop-off costs at nearly every London hub.