From 1 January 2026, accompanying friends or relatives to the terminal of British airports will incur a mandatory cost, even for a few minutes of parking. At London City Airport, for example, stopping for up to five minutes costs 8 pounds (over 9 euros), while reaching the maximum limit of ten minutes brings the fee to 13 pounds. At Heathrow, Europe’s largest airport, the price for a ten-minute drop-off is £7, while at Bristol it goes up to £8.50. Until December 31, 2025, this practice was often free.
What is the drop-off fee, the “hug tax”
The so-called drop-off fee – nicknamed by many “hug tax” – concerns the temporary parking in front of the terminal to allow passengers to get out of the car, say goodbye to their loved ones or collect their luggage. Airport management companies explain that this fee has environmental objectives: reducing private traffic, limiting pollution and encouraging the use of public transport.
However, many believe that the main motivation is economic in nature, as revenue from flights is regulated and offers limited margins. Ancillary charges, on the other hand, represent a source of additional revenue, estimated at over £150 million in 2026 for short car parking alone, not counting taxis and services such as Uber.
Ten years ago, in 2015, most British airports did not charge any drop-off fees. Today, except for some smaller islands and disabled permit holders, the tax is almost universal. Some airports, such as Gatwick, have seen incremental increases of up to £10, an increase of 43% in just one year.
In Italy, for the moment, greeting each other is free
The diffusion was rapid and systematic, making the United Kingdom an almost unique case in the world, where parking in front of the terminal remains free. Criticisms, however, are not lacking. The Business Travel Association talks about “easier revenue leverage“, especially in airports with poor public connections or at night and at dawn. In the rest of the world, however, airports such as Rome Fiumicino, Milan Linate and Malpensa allow you to stop for up to 15 minutes without additional costs, offering a stark contrast to the rigidity of British regulations.
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