London City Airport Introduces Paid Drop-Off: Taxi Fares Set to Rise in 2026

London City Airport has confirmed that from January 2026, vehicles pulling up directly outside the terminal will no longer do it for free. A paid drop-off charge is coming in, enforced by ANPR cameras. Simple system. Clear rules. And the end of London City’s long-running status as the last major UK airport without a forecourt fee.

On paper, it sounds minor. Just another airport policy update. In practice, it lands somewhere else entirely. On taxi fares.

For taxi and private hire drivers, airport charges are almost never absorbed. They can’t be. Margins on short city runs are already thin, sometimes painfully so, and London City Airport is built on those exact journeys. Add a fixed drop-off fee and something has to give. Sometimes it’s a small bump in a fixed price. Other times it slips quietly into the final fare. Either way, the passenger ends up covering it. Always does.

The timing matters too. More travellers are choosing cars and taxis to reach airports. Train timing don't always match with flights times either early mornings or late night . Cancelled services that turn a simple journey into a gamble. London City’s size makes it feel quick and easy. In and out. But that same convenience funnels traffic into a tight space. Introduce a charge and some drivers will think twice. Others won’t. Some will circle. Some will drop elsewhere. Congestion doesn’t vanish. It just moves.

The airport says it’s just keeping up with the rest of the UK, a tidy way to manage terminal traffic, even if it doesn’t feel that simple on the ground.

London City Airport spokesperson stated:

“The introduction of a drop-off charge supports congestion management and aligns London City Airport with other major UK airports.”

Blue Badge holders will still be exempt, and short-stay parking remains for longer stops. For drivers, though, this isn’t really about parking. It’s about certainty. Every new rule adds another calculation. Another thing to explain. Especially for private hire operators offering fixed airport prices that passengers expect to be final, not flexible.

For travellers, the advice is pretty straightforward. Ask before you book. Check if airport charges are included. Be wary of fares that look cheap upfront but grow legs later. Pre-booked transfers with everything built in may feel safer, even if they cost a bit more on screen.

London City Airport made its name on speed and simplicity. Removing free drop-off dulls that edge, just a little. For drivers, it confirms what’s already obvious. Airport access isn’t free anymore. Anywhere. And for passengers, the age of genuinely free airport drop-offs is quietly fading out.