Airport parking costs more than return flights over half-term holidays

Gatwick’s short-stay car park costs up to £275 for a week

Airport parking costs can soar over the holidays

A week’s parking at the airport could cost more than return flights to a variety of European destinations over the half-term holidays, according to new research.

YourParkingSpace.co.uk, a company that lists driveways available to rent near airports, found that from 26 October to 2 November, airport parking costs up to £275 for seven days.

London Gatwick is charging this for a week’s stay at its premium short stay North Terminal facilities, which are the closest to the terminal and offer slightly larger parking bays.

Other North Terminal options include short stay (£186), valet parking (£82) and long stay (£69).

Return easyJet flights from Gatwick to Paris over the same dates can be bagged for £79: £196 more than its priciest parking option.

At London Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, parking at Terminal 2 costs £149 for the half-term week in the short-stay car park, or £94 in long-stay.

British Airways return flights to Munich cost just £90 over the same dates.

Elsewhere, London City airport’s on-site parking costs £102 for the week, while at Glasgow airport official fast track flex plus parking costs £89.99 – around three times the price of a return flight to Dublin (£29).

Harrison Woods, managing director at YourParkingSpace.co.uk, said: “The price of official parking at some of the UK’s busiest airports is sky high.”

A Gatwick spokesperson told The Independent: “The price quoted is for our premium service, but Gatwick offers a range of cheaper parking options so that passengers are able to choose the option that suits them best.

“As with other airports, the cost of parking varies depending on demand, but prices can be found on our website so passengers are able to make an informed choice on their chosen option.”