East Midlands Airport to Increase Drop-Off Charge to £8

Airport Drivers Face £8 Drop-Off Charge and £100 Parking Penalty

East Midlands Airport to Increase Drop-Off Charge to £8 and Cut Stay Time Drivers dropping passengers at East Midlands Airport will face a higher charge and less time in the rapid drop-off zone from Tuesday. East Midlands Airport (EMA) said the price will increase from £5 for 15 minutes to £8 for a 10-minute stay from 15:00 BST. The airport said the increase was due to significant inflationary pressures and added that the charge had not risen for five years. The higher price is also expected to contribute towards a £120m investment programme at the airport near Castle Donington in Leicestershire. Airport drop-off charge is increasing The change means drivers will pay £3 more while also having five minutes less in the rapid drop-off area. The airport said its new pricing remained among the lowest of any UK airport and was in line with charges elsewhere. However, North West Leicestershire MP Amanda Hack criticised the change, describing the increase and shorter permitted stay as frustrating for consumers. She said she had received complaints from people who had received £100 parking penalties after forgetting to pay for airport drop-offs. ANPR system means drivers need to remember to pay East Midlands Airport introduced an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system in 2025, replacing barriers in an effort to make drop-offs smoother and improve traffic flow. Drivers using the rapid drop-off area must pay by midnight on the day after their visit, either online or by phone. Anyone who fails to pay within the required time can receive a £100 parking charge, although this is reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. The system means drivers do not necessarily have to pay at the airport itself, but they still need to remember to complete the payment afterwards. For people collecting or dropping off passengers, checking the airport's parking arrangements before travelling can help avoid confusion, particularly when travelling at busy times or in unfamiliar surroundings. Free alternatives remain available East Midlands Airport said drivers can still use its long-stay car park for free for up to one hour. The long-stay car park is around a 10-minute walk from the terminal, providing an alternative for people who do not want to use the paid rapid drop-off area. Blue Badge holders can also use free drop-off parking in short-stay parking bays close to the terminal. Hack said she had repeatedly asked the airport to install a payment machine inside the terminal so family members and friends could pay after dropping passengers off. The airport said its drop-off charges help manage congestion and said the new fees were proportionate to inflationary increases. It also highlighted 24/7 bus services from Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and surrounding communities. For drivers planning an airport journey, the key change is straightforward: the rapid drop-off charge will rise to £8 while the permitted stay falls to 10 minutes. Drivers should also remember that failing to make the required payment can result in a £100 parking charge.