Heathrow's chief executive has defended the airport's £7 terminal drop-off charge on the day the government's review of rising UK airport fees got under way, telling travellers the airport wants fewer people arriving by car.
Speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari on the morning of 15 October, Thomas Woldbye said Heathrow's charge was among the lowest of the UK's major airports. "To be clear, we have an objective to make sure that less people travel by car and more people travel on sustainable and public transport," he said. "That is clearly a political objective that's set for us." He added that the airport continues to invest in bus routes and other sustainable transport links to the terminals.
The comments are Heathrow's first detailed public response since the Department for Transport confirmed on 14 October that it would review drop-off charges across UK airports, after research by the RAC found that 16 of the UK's 20 busiest airports had raised their fees over the past year, with the average charge rising by a third to £7. The DfT said the review was "vital to ensure travel remains accessible and that passengers are treated fairly" and said it hoped airports would show restraint on further rises.
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis welcomed the review, saying drop-off charges were "a growing source of anger and frustration" for drivers, with four in five motorists surveyed by the RAC calling them a "rip-off". He noted that none of the 10 busiest airports in the European Union charge for drop-offs at all, in contrast to most major UK airports.
Woldbye also used the interview to press the case for Heathrow's proposed third runway, telling LBC that not building it would be "a huge missed opportunity" and pointing to a planned £33bn investment he said would support jobs and growth across the supply chain. The government has not yet confirmed its position on expansion.
For now, Heathrow's drop-off charge remains unchanged at £7 per visit to the terminal forecourts, with a maximum 10-minute stay before a penalty charge applies. There is no indication yet of when the government's review will conclude or whether it could lead to caps on charges or a mandatory free grace period.
What this means for your journey: if you want to avoid the £7 charge, Heathrow's Long Stay car park still allows a free drop-off with a shuttle bus to the terminals, or you can compare your options on our public transport page before you travel.