Taxi operators have accused Stansted Airport of greed after the airport raised its short‑stay drop‑off and collection fee on 19 March. The charge for stopping outside the Essex terminal for under 15 minutes increased from £7 to £10, a rise of roughly 40 %.

The fee was free until 2012, when a £2 charge was introduced, and it has risen steadily each year since that time.

Why do some cabbies feel they are “sitting ducks”, and what does Stansted Airport have to say about the increase?

Record‑breaking passenger numbers put pressure on facilities

Stansted Airport recorded a historic 29.3 million passengers in the year to September 2024, making it the United Kingdom’s fourth busiest airport. The airport offers routes to more than 40 countries and serves as a vital gateway for holiday‑makers from the East of England. On several occasions, Stansted Airport has even hosted a United States president.

These soaring passenger figures have intensified the demand for quick and convenient ground‑transport options. The airport’s management argues that a modest charge for short‑stay drop‑off helps keep traffic moving and encourages travellers to consider more sustainable alternatives such as rail or coach services.

Stansted Airport estimates that if a third of its annual passengers use the express set‑down zone for under 15 minutes on at least one occasion, the airport could generate roughly £100 million from the fee.

Impact on independent taxi firms

Neil Godfrey, owner of East Anglian Airport Transfers, says the increase has forced him to reconsider the pricing structure for journeys from Clacton‑on‑Sea to Stansted Airport. The 53‑year‑old operator explains that a typical fare may need to rise from £80 to £90 to cover the new charge.

Neil Godfrey notes, “Neil Godfrey is lucky if Neil Godfrey can make £20 off this journey now, which isn’t a lot of money really.” Neil Godfrey also points to rising fuel costs and staffing expenses as additional pressures on the business.

Neil Godfrey worries that passengers might start to view airport parking as a cheaper alternative, which could erode the market for door‑to‑door taxi services.

Neil Godfrey described Stansted Airport’s new charge as “extortionate” and asked, “Neil Godfrey would like to know where the money goes… It is frustrating as Neil Godfrey knows other airports will follow suit.”

By comparison, Southend Airport charges £8 for a ten‑minute drop‑off and does not offer local discounted rates, illustrating a markedly different pricing philosophy.

Veteran driver Paul Eve labels the increase a “rubbish excuse”

Paul Eve, a 62‑year‑old taxi driver, applauded the introduction of a barrier‑free system powered by automatic number‑plate recognition (ANPR) in January 2025, which Stansted Airport claims has helped keep vehicles moving. However, Paul Eve accuses Stansted Airport of using congestion as a pretext for higher fees.

Paul Eve says, “It is a rubbish excuse. It is pure greed because Stansted Airport’s drivers are sitting ducks.” Paul Eve adds, “Stan­dest Airport’s management thinks if people can afford a holiday, they can afford a few more quid at the drop‑off.”

Paul Eve typically charges £90 for a trip to Stansted Airport and says the driver will absorb the extra cost so that customers are not forced to pay more.

Stansted Airport is on track to become the United Kingdom’s second busiest airport after plans to boost annual passenger numbers to 51 million were approved in December. The airport has a cap of 274 000 flights per year and is currently undergoing a £1.1 billion expansion programme.

Planning conditions require that at least 50 % of passengers reach Stansted Airport by public transport, a goal Stansted Airport management cites as evidence of the airport’s commitment to greener travel.

Afzaal Nasir stresses responsibility for safe door‑to‑door service

Afzaal Nasir, a 38‑year‑old taxi driver based in Chelmsford, argues that many customers still expect a direct, door‑to‑door service. Afzaal Nasir explains, “When it comes to dropping off the customer, it comes with a responsibility as well. Afzaal Nasir cannot just drop them anywhere; Afzaal Nasir has to drop them off somewhere nearby and somewhere safe.”

Afzaal Nasir finds the new £10 charge for stays under 15 minutes “doesn’t make sense” given that the service was previously free, yet Afzaal Nasir is prepared to absorb the cost rather than pass it on to passengers.

Stansted Airport highlights that a free set‑down service operates from its mid‑stay car park, offering an alternative for drivers willing to travel a short distance to the terminal.

Stansted Airport’s justification for the fee

Stansted Airport’s spokesperson says the express set‑down fees “make an important contribution to encouraging alternative, more sustainable transport options” and to reducing congestion on the terminal drop‑off lane.

The spokesperson explains that the fees help curb “kiss and fly” journeys, which typically involve four separate car trips for a single flight – a pattern that generates additional traffic and emissions.

Stansted Airport plans to continue investing “significant sums” in measures that encourage travellers to consider alternative ways of reaching the airport. These investments include new connections to previously unserved towns and villages, enhancements to the customer experience at the airport’s coach station, and the introduction of new bus fleets in partnership with local operators.

Stansted Airport also points out that it is currently the United Kingdom’s number‑one airport for public‑transport usage, a claim supported by the airport’s extensive rail links and frequent coach services.