A major airport is cracking down on anyone dropping off travelers by car
Even though the Brexit withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union was officially finalized in 2021, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is still officially considered the busiest airport in Europe, as a major hub for both transatlantic travel and flights across the continent. The 83.9 million travelers who passed through London Heathrow in 2024 marked a new record, and the airport continues to grapple with the infrastructure needs of rising numbers of passengers. As part of these measures to navigate the flow of traffic, London Heathrow is now also raising the fee for dropping off passengers from £6 to £7 ($8 to $9.30 USD) while also cracking down on the 10-minute dropoff limit. "Any future Terminal Drop-Off Charge pricing will be reviewed annually alongside car park pricing, and further consultation will be undertaken where required," Heathrow Airport Limited wrote in a Dec. 1 report, saying that it reviewed practices at other UK airports and will put measures in place to "ease congestion and improve traffic flow." The change will take effect on the first day of 2026 and will affect anyone who drives into the airport's four passenger terminals without parking the car for longer. Those who overstay the 10-minute limit will be hit by a £40 fine that can rise to £80 if not paid within 14 days. Those who do not pay the £7 fee online within 24 hours of airport arrival can also expect to eventually receive a £40 ticket at the address at which their vehicle is registered. Although these fines were already in place, the document published by London Heathrow promises stronger enforcement. Related: An airport seriously angered travelers with its new hug limit While London Heathrow insists the fee increase will only minimally affect the 95% of drivers who do not exceed the 10-minute limit, the proposal drew immediate ire from those who drive into the airport regularly. London Heathrow Airport is the largest in Europe by passenger traffic.Shutterstock "Heathrow's decision to increase its terminal drop-off fee to £7 and introduce a strict 10-minute limit is yet another example of rising airport charges impacting the very people who keep our economy moving," Clive Wratten, who heads the British Business Travel Association, said in a statement cited by Business Travel News Europe. "Business travellers are being penalised [British spelling] the moment they arrive at the airport. There's next to no justification for this." More Travel News: Similar anger erupted in 2023 when Dunedin Airport (DUD) on New Zealand's South Island launched an ad campaign in which it told drivers dropping off travelers to keep "max hug time [to] three minutes." While intended as a light-hearted way to remind drivers to keep the drop-off area clear, what many saw as the airport monitoring people's affection immediately went viral on the internet. "We're not here to tell people how long they should hug for," Dunedin Airport Chief Executive Dan De Bono ended up having to explain amid the outcry. "It's more the message of please 'move on.' If you’re going to take longer, move to the car park." Related: A rising tourist destination just scrapped all visas for Americans This story was originally published by TheStreet on Dec 3, 2025, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
