Latest at East Midlands · 29 Sep 2026: East Midlands Airport raised its Rapid Drop Off charge from £5 to £8 for up to 10 minutes (then £1 per minute to a 30-minute maximum), effective 3pm on 29 September 2026. The £5 fee had stood since 2021, so the charge is up 60% — and the free window is cut from 15 minutes to 10. Payment stays barrierless: pay online by midnight the day after your visit. All updates →
The East Midlands drop-off charge in detail
Rapid Drop Off: £8 for up to 10 minutes.
If you overstay: £1 per minute beyond 10 minutes; 30-minute maximum stay.
Where to drop off at East Midlands
The Rapid Drop Off lanes are directly outside the terminal and fully barrierless — and signed for drop-off only. You drive through without stopping, cameras read your plate, and you pay afterwards.
What the East Midlands drop-off is actually like
East Midlands' Rapid Drop-Off is fully barrierless — you drive straight through and pay online by midnight the next day; the walkable Short Stay 1 has no shuttle, it's on foot only.
Source: the airport's own directions page.
How and when to pay the East Midlands drop-off charge
How: Online at pay.eastmidlandsairport.com, by automated phone on 03452 221517, or automatically with Autopay.
When: pay by 23:59 the day after your visit. Breaches bring a Parking Charge of up to £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days, plus a debt-recovery fee of up to £70.
Fully barrierless — there's nothing to stop for and no machines in the lanes; cameras log your plate and you pay afterwards.
Exemptions: Blue Badge holders park free for up to 30 minutes in Short Stay 1 — normal charges apply in the Rapid Drop Off lanes themselves.
Official payment site: pay.eastmidlandsairport.com
Free drop-off alternative at East Midlands
Long Stay 2 — 60 minutes free, walk or shuttle. Allow 15–25 extra minutes versus the barrier.
Every airport's free alternative is in the free drop-off guide — or scan the full comparison table.
Pick-up charges at East Midlands Airport: where to collect and what it costs
The Rapid Drop Off is drop-off only — don't use it to collect. For pick-ups, East Midlands points drivers to Short Stay 1 at £6 for up to 30 minutes (also where Blue Badge holders get 30 minutes free), or wait out a delay in Long Stay 2's free hour with a walk or shuttle across.
How pick-up charging works across the UK: pick-up charges at every airport · the quick comparison.
Getting to the East Midlands drop-off
East Midlands Airport terminal. Follow the drop-off signs on site — the zone can sit a short walk from the doors.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · Get directions →
Being dropped off isn't the cheap option.
£5 out, £6 back — £11 in fees for the dropped-off round trip.
The Rapid Drop Off is drop-off only, so collection means Short Stay 1 — all before fuel and two airport runs. Flying yourself? Pre-book parking instead and the car's waiting when you land — even off the 1am arrival.
Pre-book East Midlands parking →Compare: Airparks · YourParkingSpace
Just dropping someone off? Long Stay 2 is the free option here — details above.
Some parking links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It never affects our charges data.
East Midlands drop-off & pick-up FAQs
How much is the drop-off charge at East Midlands Airport?
East Midlands Airport charges £8 for up to 10 minutes at the drop-off area closest to the terminal. If you overstay: £1 per minute beyond 10 minutes; 30-minute maximum stay.
Is there a free drop-off at East Midlands Airport?
Yes. East Midlands keeps a free or cheaper option — Long Stay 2: 60 minutes free, walk or shuttle. Allow 15–25 extra minutes.
How do I pay the East Midlands Airport drop-off charge?
Online at pay.eastmidlandsairport.com, by automated phone on 03452 221517, or automatically with Autopay. Pay by 23:59 the day after your visit. Breaches bring a Parking Charge of up to £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days, plus a debt-recovery fee of up to £70.
Can you pay the East Midlands drop-off charge at a machine or by card at the airport?
No. Fully barrierless — there's nothing to stop for and no machines in the lanes; cameras log your plate and you pay afterwards. Pay by 23:59 the day after your visit.
Is the East Midlands drop-off charge free for Blue Badge holders?
Blue Badge holders park free for up to 30 minutes in Short Stay 1 — normal charges apply in the Rapid Drop Off lanes themselves.
Is there a pick-up charge at East Midlands Airport, and where do you collect?
The Rapid Drop Off is drop-off only — don't use it to collect. For pick-ups, East Midlands points drivers to Short Stay 1 at £6 for up to 30 minutes (also where Blue Badge holders get 30 minutes free), or wait out a delay in Long Stay 2's free hour with a walk or shuttle across.
Has the East Midlands Airport drop-off charge gone up?
Yes. It rose from £5 in 2021 to £8, an increase of about 60%.
Did you know?
East Midlands is the UK's foremost hub for express air freight — its dedicated cargo jets fly round the clock, handling a record 413,664 tonnes in the year to March 2026.
Drop-off charges at airports near East Midlands
Method & corrections
Every figure on this page is checked against the airport's own published charges and stamped with the date we checked it. We re-verify the full dataset quarterly, and after any reported change — see how we work and who maintains it.
Spotted an error? Email hello@airportdropoffcharges.co.uk — corrections are made visibly and dated. The dataset behind this page is free to reuse with attribution: JSON · CSV (CC BY 4.0).