Reasearch by the RAC shows that seven of the UK’s busiests airports have put up their terminal drop-off fees this summer.
The motoring organisation said while the proportion of airports increasing their fees is lower than last year, ‘charges across the board have never been so high’.
The biggest hikes were at Southampton and Belfast International, which have put their charges up by £2.
Southampton has increased drop-off fees to £6 for 20 minutes, up from £4 in 2022, and Belfast has hiked fees to £3 from £1 for 10 minutes.
Belfast’s other airport, Belfast City, has now introduced a charge of £3 for 10 minutes, having previously not charged for dropping off.
Drivers arriving at Glasgow now pay £5 for 15 minutes, up from £4 in 2022, while at Aberdeen the initial rate also sits at £5 for 15 minutes, an increase from £4 for 10 minutes last year.
Leeds Bradford has upped its charges for 10 minutes from £5 to £6 and Liverpool John Lennon is now £5 for 10 minutes, up from £4.
Stansted has the highest charges, with an initial charge of £7 for 15 minutes, but it has not increased its fees this year.
Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Luton and Edinburgh are also among 13 airports that have frozen drop-off charges since last summer.
Cardiff, London City and Inverness still do not charge a drop-off fee.
RAC Head of Roads Policy Nicholas Lyes said: “Having tracked airport drop-off fees since 2016, we can see putting up charges has now become something of an annual ritual.
“This year is no different with seven out of 21 airports increasing their fees and one introducing them for the first time.
“Drivers should brace themselves for jaw-dropping prices when they drop their loved-ones off at the terminal.
“Thankfully the proportion of airports hiking fees this year is lower than last year, but that will be little consolation as charges across the board have never been so high.”
He added: “Many travellers will call on their friends or family to take them to the airport because of persistent industrial action on the rail network meaning that for many, being dropped off at the airport by car is the only reliable way to make their flight on-time.”
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The motoring organisation said while the proportion of airports increasing their fees is lower than last year, ‘charges across the board have never been so high’.
The biggest hikes were at Southampton and Belfast International, which have put their charges up by £2.
Southampton has increased drop-off fees to £6 for 20 minutes, up from £4 in 2022, and Belfast has hiked fees to £3 from £1 for 10 minutes.
Belfast’s other airport, Belfast City, has now introduced a charge of £3 for 10 minutes, having previously not charged for dropping off.
Drivers arriving at Glasgow now pay £5 for 15 minutes, up from £4 in 2022, while at Aberdeen the initial rate also sits at £5 for 15 minutes, an increase from £4 for 10 minutes last year.
Leeds Bradford has upped its charges for 10 minutes from £5 to £6 and Liverpool John Lennon is now £5 for 10 minutes, up from £4.
Stansted has the highest charges, with an initial charge of £7 for 15 minutes, but it has not increased its fees this year.
Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Luton and Edinburgh are also among 13 airports that have frozen drop-off charges since last summer.
Cardiff, London City and Inverness still do not charge a drop-off fee.
RAC Head of Roads Policy Nicholas Lyes said: “Having tracked airport drop-off fees since 2016, we can see putting up charges has now become something of an annual ritual.
“This year is no different with seven out of 21 airports increasing their fees and one introducing them for the first time.
“Drivers should brace themselves for jaw-dropping prices when they drop their loved-ones off at the terminal.
“Thankfully the proportion of airports hiking fees this year is lower than last year, but that will be little consolation as charges across the board have never been so high.”
He added: “Many travellers will call on their friends or family to take them to the airport because of persistent industrial action on the rail network meaning that for many, being dropped off at the airport by car is the only reliable way to make their flight on-time.”
The post Seven of UK’s busiest airports hike drop-off fees appeared first on Travel Gossip.
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