‘PURE MONEY GRAB’: Chauffeur boss frustrated with new rise in Heathrow Airport drop off charges starting in 2025
Heathrow Airport’s planned increase in drop-off charges from January 2025 has intensified concerns within the chauffeur and transport sectors.
Martin Cox, CEO of Gerrard Chauffeur Drive, expressed strong opposition to the hike, labelling it a “pure money grab by greedy owners of airports”.
Cox highlighted the cumulative financial pressures on the industry, citing tolls, congestion charges, escalating vehicle costs, and parking fees. He contends that such measures are “taxing business out of our industry”, and even suggested it as a deliberate move by regulators and the Government.
The frustrated CEO highlighted the financial strain is compounded for chauffeur services, who must absorb these costs upfront, often amounting to thousands daily, while awaiting client payments over extended periods. Cox noted the industry’s role in transporting influential individuals, yet feels it is “totally ignored with zero influence” by authorities.
Heathrow Airport are set to increase its Terminal Drop-Off Charge (TDOC) from £5 to £6 from January 2025.
This fee, introduced in 2021, applies to all drivers, including taxi and private hire drivers, when dropping off passengers at the airport’s terminal forecourts.
Martin Cox said on LinkedIn: “On behalf of Gerrard Chauffeur Drive we are utterly appalled at not only the unjustified increase but the whole idea of a drop off charge, it’s a pure money grab by greedy owners of Airports.
“What with tolls, congestions charges, huge increase in vehicle costs, obscene parking charges, London is taxing business out of our industry, which I believe is the objective of both our regulator and this new government.
“The Chauffeur industry get a double whammy, as not only do we have to pass these costs on, we have to finance these costs, which run into thousands every day, for upto 45 days, as we need to pay our chauffeur’s within days of these charges being applied.
“Our sector transports the most influence people on the planet - yet with the authorities we are totally ignored with zero influence!
“We need to possibly look to a legal challenge to stop this daylight robbery.”
