Drop-off fees at º£½ÇÊÓƵ airports have hit a record high as demand for post-pandemic travel continues, a new RAC report has found.
Of the 11 airports that hiked prices since last year, Belfast City’s rise was the steepest with charges going up by a third (£4 for 10 minutes). This was followed by Newcastle at £5 for 10 minutes.
London Heathrow, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Liverpool all upped drop-off fees by £1 and now charge £6 for between 10 and 20 minutes.
London Gatwick, Stansted, Bristol, Leeds Bradford and Southampton are the most expensive nationally, charging the top rate of £7 for dropping off, while Glasgow increased its fee by 50p to £6 for 15 minutes.
But London Luton and Manchester are the most pricey on a cost-per-minute basis, with drivers having to fork out £5 to stop for just five minutes.
Cardiff Airport, meanwhile, introduced drop-off fees this year for the first time (£3 for 10 minutes).
London City is the only top 20 º£½ÇÊÓƵ airport that still offers drivers a free drop-off close to the terminal.
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: “Drivers also need to be aware of the growing trend of airports dispensing with on-site payment in favour of introducing barrierless drop-offs that require payment online or by phone later.
"This is another source of frustration for people who in many cases are just trying to help a family member or friend get to the airport. Anyone who doesn’t notice the change or simply forgets to pay will inevitably be stung with a very unwelcome parking charge notice."
The demise of free drop-offs at º£½ÇÊÓƵ airports is in sharp contrast to other major airports elsewhere in Europe. RAC analysis of the top 10 in the EU by passenger numbers found eight – including Paris Charles de Gaulle, Madrid, Barcelona, Frankfurt and Rome – still do.
“The main reason drivers drop off at airports, according to our research, is to help people with bulky and often heavy luggage," added Mr Dennis.
"This is understandable when the alternative to the car is often either a conventional bus, which can be impractical with lots of cases, or a costly taxi – with fares for the latter subject to the same drop-off fees that drivers need to pay."
