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Airport Drop-off Charges
13 January 2026
Lead MP
Yasmin Qureshi
Bolton South and Walkden
Lab
Responding Minister
Keir Mather
Tags
Taxation
Word Count: 13607
Other Contributors: 16
At a Glance
Yasmin Qureshi raised concerns about airport drop-off charges in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government should scrap drop-off charges altogether or introduce a short free period. Additionally, there should be national guidance on simple and consistent signage for parking charges and fees at all airports, clear payment prompts upon exit from barrierless systems, and reasonable reminders rather than immediate penalties for first-time non-payment.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The current system of airport drop-off charges is unfair, confusing, and punitive. Issues include high fees, lack of clear signage, and excessive fines for non-payment, with Manchester airport charging £5 for up to five minutes, £6.40 for up to ten minutes, and £25 for up to thirty minutes, along with a penalty notice of £100 which can be reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
Adam Jogee
Lab
Newcastle-under-Lyme
He highlighted the need for a direct train line from Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester airport and shared an anecdote about his wife reminding him of parking charges, illustrating the impact on daily life. Describes accessibility issues at Belfast City airport, highlighting challenges faced by less able-bodied individuals due to long-stay car park distances and lack of canopy cover.
Afzal Khan
Lab
Manchester Rusholme
Shared a constituent's experience of being unfairly penalized due to website issues preventing payment, highlighting the need for accountability from airport operators.
Amanda Hack
Lab
North West Leicestershire
East Midlands airport's drop-off system is unfair due to limited transport options. Passengers often end up paying despite using public transport, and the payment process is inconvenient.
Edinburgh West
Christine Jardine raises concerns about the high cost of drop-off charges at Edinburgh airport, especially for those on a fixed income or facing late flights. She questions the fairness of these charges and their impact on people's ability to manage costs.
Danny Beales
Lab
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Heathrow airport's increase in drop-off charges has led to frustration among residents. There is also an issue of displacement as people park in nearby villages to avoid charges. Questions Jerome Mayhew's logic regarding the responsibility of the Government for airport drop-off charge increases, pointing out historical data suggesting otherwise.
Al Pinkerton
LD
Surrey Heath
MPs receive letters about rising airport drop-off charges due to poor public transport options, especially affecting disabled, young parents, and older travellers. Payment systems lack transparency and fairness, penalizing those without digital access.
West Dorset
The charges at airports have risen rapidly across the country, far beyond inflation. They hit groups particularly hard such as disabled passengers, people with reduced mobility, parents travelling with young children, and those from rural areas who are least able to use public transport. Argues against offloading costs onto consumers and calls for regulation of airport drop-off charges to prevent exploitation by airports.
Jerome Mayhew
Con
Broadland and Fakenham
Questions whether the current charging mechanism for airport drop-offs is fair, arguing that airports should provide point-of-service charging options to ensure fairness and transparency. Asked the Minister to remind Manchester airport that notices of charges should be placed at points where people can still reverse out if they choose not to accept them.
Jim McMahon
Lab/Co-op
Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton
He emphasized the importance of fairness in the payment system at Manchester airport, comparing it to unfair business practices by weekly payment stores. He argued that penalties should be proportionate to minor oversights. Highlights the hidden nature of drop-off charges and suggests that airports avoid point-of-service payment options to maximize revenue from penalties. Emphasized the need for fair penalty charges and clear transparency regarding late payment penalties. Gatwick was given as an example of airport finance with £600 million in shareholder dividends.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Complains about drop-off charges in Northern Ireland airports, noting zealous traffic wardens and difficulties for those with disabilities or heavy luggage. Suggests the first 10 minutes should be free.
John Milne
LD
Horsham
John Milne highlights issues with Gatwick airport increasing drop-off fees from £5 to £10 in a short period, arguing that such charges are unreasonable and should not be borne by the public due to expansion costs benefiting private companies.
Lee Pitcher
Lab
Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme
He expressed concern for disabled individuals needing access close to airport terminals, advocating for a grace period without payment so everyone can use the facility comfortably. Suggested franchising to improve multimodal access, proposing a super loop connecting Doncaster East and its airport.
Rebecca Paul
Con
Reigate
Rebecca Paul discusses how other international airports offer free or low-cost drop-off options compared to UK airports. She critiques the hike in charges at Gatwick and its impact on constituents, suggesting alternatives are impractical. Raised issues related to taxation, highlighting the autumn Budget's redesigned transitional relief scheme worth £1.3 billion supporting airports over 2026-27 and 2028-29.
Sarah Olney
LD
Richmond Park
Asked for more transparency regarding airport data on car usage and drop-off penalties, questioning why such information is not shared if drop-off charges provide environmental benefits.
Steve Yemm
Lab
Mansfield
Constituents in Mansfield face significant drop-off charges at East Midlands airport, with no barriers, cash machines or time for payment realization. Late payments incur steep penalties. This system disproportionately affects those without smartphones and internet access.
Slough
Concerned about extortionate drop-off charges at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, highlighting the lack of adequate public transport options from Slough to these airports.
Government Response
Keir Mather
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
Government Response
Acknowledged the importance of fair and transparent drop-off charges at airports. Emphasised the need to improve multimodal access, including rail services, and address concerns about late payment penalties and digital literacy issues. We recognise concerns about private parking operators and are analysing responses to our consultation on raising standards, preparing a new code of practice and compliance framework. The Government expect airports to manage arrangements with fairness and respect and will continue working towards this goal.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.