London Luton Airport has increased its terminal drop-off charge to £9 for up to 12 minutes, marking the second fee rise in a year and taking the cost up 80% since 2024.
London Luton raises drop-off fees to £9 – second hike in 12 months
The new rate is £9 for 12 minutes in the Drop Off & Pick Up Zone, the area closest to the terminal.
This follows a previous rate of £7 for 10 minutes, which was introduced in late September 2025 after a 40% increase from £5.
Overstays are now charged at £1 per minute after the first 12 minutes, with a 30-minute maximum stay applied.
Fees must be paid online or by phone by midnight the day after your visit to avoid extra charges. The airport confirmed the new pricing to local media after the change went live, though it has not publicly stated the exact implementation date.
Luton Airport says the drop off fees increase is intended to encourage more “sustainable transport”
Luton Airport says the increase is intended to encourage more sustainable transport to and from the airport, including rail, bus, coach, taxi and private hire options. It also aims to maintain efficient traffic flow around the terminal by discouraging long waits in the drop-off zone. The airport notes that passengers in fully electric vehicles can access a reduced tariff when using Terminal Car Park 1 only.
How Luton’s drop off fees now compares with other London airports
Luton’s £9 fee places it as the third-most expensive for terminal drop-offs among major UK airports, behind Gatwick at £10 for 10 minutes and Stansted at £10 for 15 minutes.
Heathrow currently charges £7 for terminal drop-off.
Across the UK, 16 of 20 airports surveyed by the RAC have raised or introduced “kiss and fly” drop-off charges since summer 2025, with an average increase of around a third.
