As we reported yesterday, London City Airport has announced that it will introduce a drop‑off fee for the first time, joining Heathrow and Gatwick in implementing charges for vehicles arriving at the terminal.
The move comes on the same day Gatwick increased its own fee to double‑digit levels — a shift that has prompted concern from the business travel sector.
Global chauffeur service Blacklane has issued a strong response, warning that the escalating charges across London’s major airports risk undermining the city’s accessibility and competitiveness as a global business hub.
James Dow, UK and Ireland general manager at Blacklane, described the introduction of London City’s new fee as completing a “hat‑trick” of rising surcharges across the capital’s key airports.
According to Dow, the timing and scale of the increases set “a concerning precedent for those working to keep our global city accessible to international business and leisure travellers.” He notes that private hire and chauffeur services — essential for airport connectivity, especially for corporate travellers — were not consulted before the fees were introduced or raised.
Dow also criticised the lack of reinvestment or passenger benefit associated with the new charges. “It is staggering that additional charges do not bring experience improvements for guests arriving by car,” he said, adding that there is “no concession for those arriving by Electric Vehicle (EV),” despite the industry’s push toward lower‑emission transport.
Blacklane is urging airports to engage more closely with the business travel sector to better understand its operational role and its contribution to passenger experience and sustainability goals.
“These continually increasing fees, with London City Airport as the latest to do so, are at odds with London’s position as a global business travel hub,” Dow said. “Additional charges for essential travel cause unnecessary friction, and frustration, for international travellers. London is now at odds with almost all other major business cities for airport travel costs.”
For business travellers — many of whom rely on private hire services for efficiency, reliability, and safety — the rising cost of airport access is likely to become an increasingly important factor when planning travel through the capital.