He added: “A more than 40% increase in the cost to drop-off is the largest we’ve ever seen and represents a doubling of the fee since it first came in.”
Southend Airport charges £7 for drop-off of up to five minutes, but that increases to £15 for between five and thirty minutes.
A drop-off fee of £5 was introduced at Gatwick in March 2021.
That increased to £6 in 2024, with the cost rising again to £7 in May.
A Gatwick spokesperson said: “Passengers can still be dropped off for free in our long-stay car parks, with a free shuttle bus to the terminal.
“We also have excellent public transport connectivity at the airport, with passengers able to connect directly with more than 120 train stations.
“Many local bus routes serve the airport 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
Blue Badge holders remain exempt from the charge.
