An RAC survey found that 16 of the 22 airports analyzed have introduced or increased passenger drop-off charges in the past three years. The car services company claimed drivers would be “dizzy” at some of the “high” fees. Stansted Airport is the most expensive for so-called “kiss and fly” charges, which are usually charged for dropping someone off as close to the terminal as possible. Its initial charge is £7 for up to 15 minutes – an increase from £4 for 10 minutes in 2019, before the COVID pandemic. A Stansted spokesman said the charge “makes a significant contribution to encouraging alternative, more sustainable transport options” and reduces congestion. It is one of several airports that offer free passenger drop-off options in medium- or long-term car parks connected to bus terminals. Eight airports charge £5 for disembarking passengers. They include the UK’s two busiest airports: Heathrow and Gatwick, which introduced the charge last year. The RAC’s head of road policy, Nicholas Lyes, said limited public transport options for some airports and concerns about train strikes meant many passengers were asking a friend or relative to give them a lift. He added: “Anyone leaving a loved one at the terminal this summer will be surprised by some of these high charges. “Minute for minute and pound for pound, some of these charges could be almost as high as the plane ticket itself.” He said it appears many airports have raised fees to “partially make up” for lost revenue during the pandemic. Read more: Heathrow extends flight restrictions until end of October Gatwick cancels last-minute easyJet flights after saying it is ‘usual’ British Airways stops selling new short-haul tickets from Heathrow Manchester Airport is giving drivers just five minutes to drop travelers off for £5 (up from £3 in 2019), while Liverpool John Lennon Airport has increased its charges from £3 for 20 minutes to £4 for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, Bristol Airport has increased its starting charge for 10 minutes from £1 to £5. In Scotland, disembarking passengers at the three largest airports is not much cheaper. Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow airports have all doubled their charges in the past three years to £4 for 10 minutes. Birmingham and Belfast International have kept their charges the same since 2019 (£3 for 15 minutes and £1 for 10 minutes respectively), while drivers can still take advantage of the free drop-off areas near the terminal entrances in Cardiff, London and Belfast City. Mr Lyes advised drivers to research charges before heading to airports and warned them to be aware that many sites use cameras to enforce parking bans in certain areas. A spokesman for industry body the Airport Managers Association said airports provide clear information about parking and drop-off charges to ensure travelers are “well informed about the range of options to suit their needs”. He added: “Airports that operate with charges directly outside the terminal do so for many different reasons, including managing congestion in capacity-constrained areas and limiting the environmental and air quality impacts of travel “kiss and fly.” “
