Hundreds of thousands of UK drivers have been issued parking tickets for leaving their cars near major airports, new figures reveal. Analysis by Weightmans, based on FOI requests to councils near UK airports, shows that a total of 227,222 parking tickets were issued between March 2023 and July 2024. The highest number of tickets was issued near Luton Airport, with a staggering 95,271 fines. Following closely is Slough, near Heathrow Airport, which recorded 42,108 tickets. Conversely, Great Dunmow, near Stansted Airport, issued the fewest tickets at just 49.
The average cost of a parking ticket in the UK is around £75, significantly lower than the average airport car park fee of around £185.40 for a week’s parking. This significant cost difference may lead some travellers to opt for cheaper, albeit illegal, parking alternatives in residential areas near airports, risking fines. Three towns highlighted in the data for issuing the most tickets during the period are Luton, Slough, and Solihull near Birmingham Airport.
Simon Hartley, litigator at Weightmans, emphasised the challenges faced by areas surrounding major airports in managing unauthorised parking. Homeowners in these areas have legal options available to prevent trespassing and recover damages caused by unauthorised parking. Luton Airport led the way with 52,812 tickets, with Slough and Solihull following suit.
The full ranking of airports based on the total number of parking tickets during the 2023/24 period is as follows:
1. London Luton Airport: 95,271
2. Heathrow Airport: 54,346
3. Birmingham Airport: 27,177
4. Gatwick Airport: 22,307
5. Glasgow International Airport: 12,348
6. Manchester Airport: 6444
7. Liverpool John Lennon Airport: 5613
8. Newcastle Airport: 1803
9. London Stansted Airport: 1023
10. Bristol Airport: 631
11. Leeds Bradford Airport: 259
These findings underscore the pressure on local areas due to airport-related traffic. Authorities urge holidaymakers to be cautious when parking near airports to avoid receiving fines.