Gatwick drop-off charges to increase from £5 to £6

Gatwick Airport introduced a £5 drop-off fee in March 2021

Gatwick Airport is increasing the fee to drop off passengers at its forecourt from £5 to £6.

The price increase will start on Friday and the airport said motorists could pay online, over the phone or by setting up an account.

Social media users responded angrily to the announcement on X, formerly known as Twitter, labelling the charge a "rip off" and an "absolute joke".

London Gatwick said the charge would "help reduce congestion" and allow it to "reinvest in sustainable transport".

It would "encourage more passengers and staff to use public transport to reach the airport to achieve our aim for 60% of journeys to and from the airport to be zero or ultra-low emissions by 2030,” a spokesperson said.

The airport said drivers could drop passengers off for free at long stay car parks, which have buses that run to the terminal every 12 minutes.

Taxi driver Farhan Khan, from Dartford, Kent, told BBC Radio Sussex he avoided taking jobs to Gatwick Airport.

"We come here to serve someone and they charge us - that's not fair," he said.

Mr Khan believes taxi drivers should be exempt from the charges

Alex Louth from Chelmsford, who was picking someone up from the airport, said there should not be a charge for drop-offs under 10 minutes.

"If someone stays there ages I would understand but just for [10 minutes] it's crazy," he said.

Drop-off charges at Heathrow and Luton are £5 while Stansted is £7.