Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen airports have doubled drop-off charges since 2019, based on new analysis. The areas have tied for the tenth most costly costs as drivers pay £4 for simply 10 minutes.
An investigation by RAC has discovered 16 of twenty-two airports have launched or raised costs for dropping off passengers previously three years. The motoring providers firm claimed drivers shall be 'shocked' by among the 'sky-high' charges.
It seems airports have elevated charges to "partially make up for 2 years of misplaced income" in the course of the pandemic, stated RAC head of roads coverage, Nicholas Lyes.
The costliest so-called kiss and fly costs, that are sometimes levied for dropping off somebody as near the terminal as potential, goes to Stansted airport.
The Essex airport's preliminary payment is £7 for as much as quarter-hour, a rise from £4 for 10 minutes in 2019, earlier than the pandemic.
A spokesman for Stansted stated the cost "makes an vital contribution to encouraging various, extra sustainable transport choices and decreasing congestion on the airport and surrounding roads".
It's one in every of many airports that provide free choices for dropping passengers off in mid or long-stay automotive parks linked to terminals by buses.
Eight airports cost £5 for dropping off passengers. They embrace the UK's two busiest airports: Heathrow and Gatwick, which launched the cost final 12 months.
Manchester Airport offers drivers simply 5 minutes to drop off travellers for £5 (up from £3 in 2019), whereas Liverpool John Lennon Airport has raised its charges from £3 for 20 minutes to £4 for 10 minutes.
Bristol Airport has hiked its preliminary payment for 10 minutes from £1 to £5. Dropping off passengers on the three largest airports in Scotland shouldn't be less expensive.
Birmingham and Belfast Worldwide Airports have saved their charges the identical since 2019 (£3 for quarter-hour and £1 for 10 minutes respectively), whereas drivers can take nonetheless benefit of free-drop-off areas close to terminal entrances at Cardiff, London Metropolis and Belfast Metropolis Airports.
RAC head of roads coverage, Nicholas Lyes, stated restricted public transport choices for some airports and considerations about prepare strikes imply many passengers are asking a buddy or relative to present them a carry.
He went on: "Anybody dropping a beloved one off on the terminal this summer season shall be shocked by a few of these sky-high, kiss-and-drop costs.
"And for these utilizing the UK's two busiest airports, the posh of free drop-offs exterior the terminal constructing has been changed by some fairly excessive charges. Minute for minute and pound for pound, a few of these costs might virtually be as excessive because the airfare itself.”
Mr Lyes stated it seems many airports have elevated charges to "partially make up for 2 years of misplaced income" in the course of the pandemic.
He suggested drivers to analysis costs earlier than heading to airports, and warned them to bear in mind that many websites use cameras to implement bans on stopping in sure areas. "Attempting to drop passengers off with out paying might end in a hefty cost," he added.
A spokesman for business physique the Airport Operators Affiliation stated airports present clear details about parking and drop-off costs to make sure travellers are "well-informed on the vary of choices to swimsuit their wants".
He added: "Airports that function drop-off costs instantly exterior the terminal accomplish that for numerous completely different causes, together with to handle congestion in capacity-restricted areas and to restrict the environmental and air high quality impacts of 'kiss and fly' journeys."
The complete listing of UK airport drop-off costs
The RAC analysed drop-off costs at 22 main UK airports. Here's a breakdown of the preliminary charges, with airports ordered from the most costly to the most cost effective:
1. Stansted: £7 for quarter-hour
2. Manchester: £5 for 5 minutes
=3. Gatwick: £5 for 10 minutes
=3. Luton: £5 for 10 minutes
=3. Bristol: £5 for 10 minutes
=3. Leeds Bradford: £5 for 10 minutes
=3. Southend: £5 for 10 minutes
8. East Midlands: £5 for quarter-hour
9. Heathrow: £5 (no time restrict)
=10. Liverpool John Lennon: £4 for 10 minutes
=10. Edinburgh: £4 for 10 minutes
=10. Glasgow: £4 for 10 minutes
=10. Newcastle: £4 for 10 minutes
=10. Aberdeen: £4 for 10 minutes
=10. Doncaster-Sheffield: £4 for 10 minutes
16. Southampton: £4 for 20 minutes
17. Birmingham: £3 for quarter-hour
18. Exeter: £3 for half-hour
19. Belfast Worldwide: £1 for 10 minutes
20. Cardiff: Free for 5 minutes
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