London Stansted Airport to introduce barrier-free drop offs

Earlier this month, Stansted said it would be able to handle between 48 and 51 million passengers a year by 2040.

Ms Harrison said the new barrierless system would make drop-offs “quicker and more convenient, reducing driver waiting times and helping improve passenger flows”.

She said the recent investment would “deliver wide-ranging benefits at every touch point of a passenger’s journey while at the airport”.

The charge will be payable by midnight the day after the drop-off.

Users currently pay £7 for a drop-off of up to 15 minutes, or £25 for longer.

Visitors will be able to pay online or via phone, and frequent users, such as taxi drivers, will be able to register for an auto-pay account.

Stansted assured customers that prominent signage would be visible to remind them of the changes, both before and after their introduction in the New Year.