top of page

Airport Drop-Off Charges in the Midlands: What Has Changed at East Midlands, Birmingham and Manchester

Team Onyx
4 days ago
6 min read

Being dropped at the terminal door used to be the simple part of a journey. At East Midlands Airport it now costs £8 for up to ten minutes, and on 10 October the question of whether these charges are fair returned to the national news, with calls for the Competition and Markets Authority to look into them.

This guide sets out what the three main airports serving the East Midlands now charge, where the free alternatives are, and how to plan a departure so that the last ten minutes of the journey are not the most fraught. Charges are taken from each airport's own published information as of 12 October 2026.

In brief

  • East Midlands Airport: £8 for up to ten minutes at Rapid Drop Off since 29 September 2026, up from £5 for 15 minutes. Drop-off is free for up to an hour in a Long Stay car park, about ten minutes' walk from the terminal (East Midlands Airport).

  • Birmingham Airport: £7 for the first 15 minutes at Premium Set Down, directly outside the terminal, or free for up to ten minutes in the separate Drop Off car park (Birmingham Airport).

  • Manchester Airport: £5.50 for five minutes, £6.50 for ten and £25 for up to 30 minutes at Terminals 2 and 3, with free drop-off at JetParks 1 and a shuttle to the terminals (Manchester Airport).

  • Nationally: RAC analysis published in July found that 16 of the UK's 20 busiest airports had raised their drop-off fees in a year, taking the typical charge to around £7 (Motoring Research).

What has changed, and why it is in the news

East Midlands Airport raised its Rapid Drop Off charge at 3pm on Tuesday 29 September, the first increase in five years. The airport cites inflationary pressures and ongoing investment, along with traffic management and the environmental impact of car journeys. TaxiPoint reports that each minute beyond the first ten is charged at £1, which would make a fifteen-minute stop £13 (TaxiPoint).

The wider picture explains why the subject keeps returning. The RAC's July research found that all of the UK's 20 busiest airports now charge to drop off, while none of the ten busiest airports in the EU do (Deeside.com). On 10 October, Sky News reported calls for the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate airport drop-off pricing (Sky News). We have seen no announcement of a formal investigation. The government's stated position has been that parking and drop-off charges are a commercial matter for airport operators (House of Commons Library).

For travellers, the practical point is simpler. Charges have changed more than once this year, the free time at the kerb has been shortened, and penalties for not paying are real.

East Midlands Airport

Dropping off

Rapid Drop Off, beside the terminal, costs £8 for up to ten minutes. Payment is cashless and barrierless, made online, by phone or through an AutoPay account. Drop-off is free for up to an hour in a Long Stay car park about ten minutes' walk from the terminal. Blue Badge holders keep free drop-off in dedicated spaces at Short Stay 1, close to the terminal.

What it means in practice

The free option is a reasonable trade for a light bag on a dry morning. With heavy luggage, children or a passenger who is less mobile, a ten-minute walk is a different proposition, particularly in winter. For more on arriving back into East Midlands, see our guide to contactless eGates at East Midlands Airport.

Birmingham Airport

Dropping off

Premium Set Down, directly outside the terminal, costs £7 for the first 15 minutes. The separate Drop Off car park is free for up to ten minutes, with no return permitted within an hour.

Collecting someone

Collections are made from Car Park 5, where tariffs start at £12 for up to an hour, according to the airport.

Manchester Airport

Dropping off

At Terminals 2 and 3, drop-off costs £5.50 for five minutes, £6.50 for ten minutes and £25 for up to 30 minutes, which is the maximum stay. All passengers can use the free Drop Off area at JetParks 1, from which a free shuttle runs to the terminals around the clock and takes about six minutes.

Paying and collecting

Charges must be paid online by midnight the day after the visit. Otherwise a £100 Parking Charge Notice is issued, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. Express Pick Up at Terminal 2 costs £6.60 for up to 15 minutes, and the airport applies a £100 charge to anyone who tries to collect passengers from the drop-off zone.

Practical points before you travel

  • Check the airport's own parking page shortly before you leave. Several airports have changed their charges this year.

  • Pay promptly. At the busiest airports' barrierless zones, payment is due by midnight the day after your visit, and the RAC warns that missed payments can lead to a parking charge notice of up to £100.

  • If you use a free car park, allow for the walk or the shuttle in your timings, on the way out and on the way back.

  • Do not wait in a drop-off zone to collect someone. Use the designated pick-up area or short-stay parking.

  • If someone is collecting you, give them your flight number rather than a fixed time, so they can follow early or late arrivals.

Why it matters for executive and private travellers

For a family holiday, a free car park and a short walk are a sensible economy. For an early departure on a working day, the calculation changes. Time is often the most valuable part of the journey, and the minutes lost to a remote car park, a shuttle queue or a forgotten payment fall at precisely the point when you would rather be preparing for the flight.

The return leg matters as much. Whoever collects you is timing their arrival against a flight that may land early or late, and paying by the minute while they wait. Arrive prepared, not rushed, applies at both ends of the trip.

How Onyx fits

Onyx Transport provides chauffeured transfers to and from East Midlands, Birmingham and Manchester airports for clients across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, including from Nottingham, Derby and Leicester to East Midlands Airport. For arrivals at East Midlands, we monitor your flight and allow an hour's waiting time, so a delayed landing does not become a race against a parking clock. If you would like to know how airport access charges are treated in your fare, ask when you request a quote.

For assistants and travel managers arranging regular airport journeys for colleagues, our note on corporate chauffeur bookings for PAs and EAs sets out how we support those bookings.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to drop off at East Midlands Airport?

Since 29 September 2026, Rapid Drop Off costs £8 for up to ten minutes. Drop-off is free for up to an hour in a Long Stay car park, about ten minutes' walk from the terminal.

Can Blue Badge holders drop off for free at East Midlands Airport?

Yes. The airport keeps free drop-off for Blue Badge holders in dedicated spaces at Short Stay 1, near the terminal.

Is there free drop-off at Birmingham Airport?

Yes. The Drop Off car park is free for up to ten minutes, with no return within an hour. Premium Set Down outside the terminal costs £7 for the first 15 minutes.

Is there free drop-off at Manchester Airport?

Yes. All passengers can use the free Drop Off area at JetParks 1, with a free shuttle to Terminals 2 and 3 that runs 24 hours a day.

What happens if I forget to pay a drop-off charge?

At Manchester, an unpaid charge leads to a £100 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. Other airports with barrierless zones also expect prompt online payment, so check the signage and the airport's website.

Are airport drop-off charges being investigated?

There have been public calls for the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate, reported by Sky News on 10 October 2026. At the time of writing, no formal investigation had been announced, and the government has described these charges as a commercial matter for airports.

Planning a departure

If you are flying from East Midlands, Birmingham or Manchester this autumn and would rather be taken to the terminal door, contact us with your flight details and we will confirm the arrangements.

Sources

Recent Posts

See All

Comments

bottom of page