Drop-off tariffs are set by the airport and can change at short notice – always check East Midlands Airport’s official pick-up and drop-off page before you travel.
East Midlands Airport increased its drop-off charge at 3pm on Tuesday 29 September 2026. It now costs £8 for up to 10 minutes in the Rapid Drop Off zone outside the terminal, replacing the £5 for 15 minutes tariff that had been in place for five years. That is 60% more money for a third less time.
If you are dropping someone off or collecting them at East Midlands, here is what you will pay, how to pay it, how to avoid paying it at all, and what happens if you forget.
At a glance: East Midlands Airport drop-off and pick-up charges
| Option | Cost | Time allowed | Distance to terminal | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid Drop Off (outside the terminal) | £8 | Up to 10 minutes | At the terminal entrance | Quick kerbside drop-offs |
| Long-stay car park | Free | Up to 1 hour | About a 10-minute walk | Anyone happy to walk, or waiting for an arrival |
| Short Stay 1 | £6 (30 mins) · £8 (1 hr) · £12 (2 hrs) · £16 (3 hrs) | Up to 3 hours at these rates | Walking distance | Going inside the terminal to meet someone |
| Blue Badge drop-off, Short Stay 1 | Free | Up to 30 minutes | Designated bays close to the terminal entrance | Blue Badge holders dropping off or collecting |
| Blue Badge, Long Stay 2 | Free | Up to 60 minutes | Short transfer | Blue Badge holders needing longer |
What changed on 29 September 2026
The airport confirmed the increase in a statement published on its media centre. The change took effect at 3pm on Tuesday 29 September 2026:
- Before: £5 for up to 15 minutes – a price the airport says had not changed for five years.
- After: £8 for up to 10 minutes.
East Midlands Airport attributed the rise to “significant inflationary pressures and ongoing investment requirements”, and said the money contributes to a £120 million investment programme that has funded security upgrades, terminal improvements and airfield infrastructure. It also said charging for drop-off helps manage congestion outside the terminal and discourages the most polluting journeys to the airport, and pointed to the bus services it supports from Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and the surrounding area.
For context on how this sits against other UK airports: Gatwick charges £10 for 10 minutes at its drop-off zones, with a maximum stay of 30 minutes – see our guide to Gatwick Airport drop-off charges.
How the Rapid Drop Off zone works
Rapid Drop Off sits directly outside the terminal entrance. There are no barriers and no payment machines — cameras read your number plate on the way in and on the way out, and you pay afterwards.
Three things are worth knowing before you use it:
- You pay later, not at the kerb. Nothing stops you from driving in, so it is easy to forget that a charge has been generated.
- The maximum stay is 30 minutes. The airport’s own Rapid Drop Off terms state that paying the tariff does not entitle you to wait any longer than is reasonably necessary to drop a passenger off, and set a 30-minute maximum. Staying beyond that can result in a parking charge of up to £100, plus a debt recovery fee of up to £70.
- Waiting for an arrival is what the free hour is for. Rapid Drop Off is designed for a two-minute handover, not for sitting with the engine running while a flight clears baggage reclaim.
How to pay – and the deadline that catches people out
Payment must be made by 23:59 on the day after your visit. There are three ways to do it:
- Online, through the airport’s payment portal.
- By phone, on the airport’s automated line – 03452 221517.
- AutoPay, a registered account that charges your card automatically after each visit. If you use the airport more than once or twice a year, this is the set-and-forget option that removes the deadline risk entirely.
Cash and cheques are not accepted anywhere in the drop-off system.
Miss the deadline, and you will receive a £100 Parking Charge, reduced to £60 if you pay within 14 days. That is twelve and a half times the drop-off fee for a missed payment, which makes the deadline the single most expensive detail on this page. Set a reminder before you leave the airport, or register for AutoPay in advance.
Your registration is captured by ANPR for charging and enforcement, and the airport’s terms allow vehicle keeper details to be obtained from the DVLA where a charge goes unpaid.
How to drop off at East Midlands Airport for free
There is a free alternative, and the airport confirmed it alongside the price rise: free parking for up to one hour in a long stay car park, about a ten-minute walk from the terminal.
That makes it a genuine option rather than a technicality. An hour is enough time to park, walk a passenger to the terminal, and walk back – or to wait for an arriving flight without watching the clock. The trade-off is the walk, which is worth thinking about with heavy luggage, small children, or in poor weather at 5am.
Blue Badge holders keep free drop-off in designated bays in Short Stay 1, close to the terminal entrance – this did not change on 29 September. Blue Badge holders also get 30 minutes free in Short Stay 1 and 60 minutes free in Long Stay 2, for pick-ups as well as drop-offs.
Picking up at East Midlands Airport
Rapid Drop Off is rarely the right choice for a pick-up. Ten minutes is not long enough to absorb a delayed bag, a slow passport queue or a late landing, and the 30-minute maximum applies regardless of how much you pay.
Two better options:
- Short Stay 1 – £6 for up to 30 minutes, £8 for up to an hour, £12 for two hours, £16 for three. This is the car park to use if you want to go inside and meet someone at arrivals.
- The free hour in the long stay car park – no cost, ten minutes’ walk, and an hour is usually enough to cover a flight that lands on time.
A practical approach used at most UK airports: wait in the free long stay car park, and only move to the kerbside once your passenger texts to say they have their bags and are walking out.
If you are flying yourself, drop-off charges may be the wrong comparison
The drop-off charge is a cost for the person driving you. If you are the one travelling, the more useful comparison is between being dropped off and parking your own car.
At East Midlands, APH sells parking in the airport’s own car parks – Short Stay, Mid Stay, Long Stay and JetParks – as well as Meet & Greet, where you drive to the terminal and hand your keys over. You can see the full range and live prices on our East Midlands Airport parking page.
Two things to weigh up:
- Return journeys double the drop-off cost. Being dropped off and collected means paying the charge twice – £16 in the Rapid Drop Off zone – before anyone has driven a mile.
- Meet & Greet removes the kerbside problem entirely. You drive to the terminal, hand over the keys and walk to check-in.
Getting to East Midlands Airport
East Midlands Airport is a single-terminal airport in Castle Donington, Leicestershire, between Derby, Nottingham and Loughborough.
The airport supports bus services from Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and surrounding towns through its sustainable transport fund. If someone else would otherwise drive you both ways, a bus fare and two £8 charges are worth comparing directly. Check current routes and timetables on the airport’s own website before you travel.
East Midlands Airport drop-off charges: FAQs
How much does it cost to drop someone off at East Midlands Airport?
£8 for up to 10 minutes in the Rapid Drop Off zone outside the terminal, from 3pm on 29 September 2026. Before that date, it was £5 for 15 minutes.
Why did the drop-off charge go up?
The airport cited “significant inflationary pressures and ongoing investment requirements”, and said the revenue supports a £120 million investment programme covering security, terminal facilities and airfield infrastructure. It also said charging helps manage congestion and reduce the most polluting journeys to the airport.
Is there a free drop-off at East Midlands Airport?
Yes. The airport offers free parking for up to one hour in a long stay car park about a ten-minute walk from the terminal. Blue Badge holders also have free drop-off in designated bays in Short Stay 1.
How long can I stay in the Rapid Drop Off zone?
The tariff covers 10 minutes, and the airport’s terms set a maximum stay of 30 minutes. The terms also state that paying does not entitle you to wait longer than is reasonably necessary to drop a passenger off.
How do I pay the East Midlands Airport drop-off charge?
Online, by automated phone line on 03452 221517, or automatically through an AutoPay account. Cash and cheques are not accepted.
When do I have to pay by?
By 23:59 on the day after your visit.
What happens if I don’t pay?
A £100 Parking Charge is issued, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. Overstaying can also result in a charge of up to £100 plus a debt recovery fee of up to £70.
Do Blue Badge holders pay the drop-off charge?
Free drop-off remains available for Blue Badge holders in designated bays in Short Stay 1, close to the terminal entrance. Blue Badge holders also get 30 minutes free in Short Stay 1 and 60 minutes free in Long Stay 2.
Is it cheaper to pick someone up from the Short Stay car park?
For a short collection, Rapid Drop Off at £8 is cheaper than Short Stay 1 at £6 for 30 minutes only if you are genuinely in and out within 10 minutes – and the free hour in the long stay car park beats both if you don’t mind the walk. For anything involving a wait, Short Stay 1 or the free long stay hour is the safer choice.
Did the Short Stay parking charges change too?
Short Stay 1 charges £6 for up to 30 minutes, £8 for up to an hour, £12 for up to two hours and £16 for up to three.
Are taxis and private hire vehicles charged?
The airport’s arrangements for licensed taxis and private hire vehicles, from its own published terms. Do not publish this answer without checking – the Gatwick page covers it, and readers will expect it here, but we have not verified the East Midlands position.
Where can I check the current charge?
On East Midlands Airport’s official pick-up and drop-off page. Drop-off tariffs are set by the airport and can change without much notice – this one had stood for five years before rising 60% overnight.