RISING COSTS: Heathrow Airport terminal drop-off fee set to rise in 2025
Heathrow Airport is 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 drivers, when dropping off passengers at the airport’s terminal forecourts.
Currently, taxi drivers are permitted to add the TDOC to fares, with the maximum surcharge set at £5.20. With the upcoming increase detailed in a taxi tariff consultation released by Transport for London (TfL), taxi drivers are being asked whether fares should change to reflect the new charge price.
Heathrow’s fee hike aligns with a broader trend at UK airports. Several major airports, including Gatwick, Edinburgh, and Bristol, have already increased their drop-off charges to £6 for a short stay. London Stansted holds the title of the most expensive, charging £7 for a 15-minute drop-off, while Manchester Airport offers the least value, demanding £5 for just five minutes – equivalent to £1 per minute.
Amid these rising costs, only a handful of airports, such as London City, Cardiff, and Inverness, continue to offer free drop-off zones. However, with fees on the rise nationwide, these exceptions are becoming increasingly rare.
How will this impact the taxi industry?
The upcoming increase in Heathrow’s Terminal Drop-Off Charge will likely result in higher fares for taxi passengers. Taxi drivers already pass on the current £5 fee to customers, and with the charge rising to £6, passengers can expect this additional cost to be reflected in their final fare after the next tariff review.
For the taxi industry, this adds to the existing pressures of rising operational costs. The industry has already had to adapt to similar fee increases at other airports, and this latest hike at one of the UK’s busiest airports could further strain drivers. It may also affect demand, with passengers potentially looking for cheaper alternatives, such as public transport, to avoid the higher costs of taxi drop-offs at Heathrow.
