Greater than half of UK airports have launched or elevated their drop-off charges up to now 12 months, RAC analysis has discovered.
Eleven out of 20 main airports analysed had been discovered to have elevated their so-called “kiss and fly” expenses. These are charges drivers should pay when dropping off a passenger as near the terminal as potential.
9 airports – Belfast Metropolis, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Heathrow, Liverpool John Lennon, Newcastle and Southampton – have raised their charges by £1.
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Leeds Bradford and Glasgow each added 50p to their expenses.
Cardiff, which beforehand had no cost, launched a £3 payment, whereas Luton now expenses £5.
This is a breakdown of what it’s important to pay to drop somebody off at every airport:
The RAC discovered there isn’t a payment for dropping off at eight of the ten busiest EU airports, reminiscent of Paris Charles de Gaulle, and airports in Frankfurt and Madrid.
London Metropolis is now the one prime 20 UK airport that also provides drivers a free drop-off near the terminal.
RAC senior coverage officer Rod Dennis stated this makes will increase in charges at UK airports “all the more depressing”.
“The sky really does seem to be the limit when it comes to the amount drivers get charged for making the briefest of stops to let friends or loved ones out to catch a flight,” he stated.
“The seemingly annual ritual of many airports hiking the cost of drop-offs is unfortunately continuing unabated.
“Airports understandably have to handle the often-limited on-site area they’ve. We additionally know some nonetheless provide quick keep free parking, however the issue is it is typically properly away from the terminal.
“If a driver wants to help a passenger with mobility issues or a lot of bags get to the terminal, they’ll often end up overstaying the ‘free’ period offered and getting charged.
“The principle motive drivers drop off at airports, in response to our analysis, is to assist folks with cumbersome and sometimes heavy baggage. That is comprehensible when the choice to the automotive is commonly both a standard bus, which might be impractical with plenty of instances, or a pricey taxi – with fares for the latter topic to the identical drop-off charges that drivers have to pay.”
Karen Dee, chief govt of Airports UK, the business physique representing British airports, stated: “All airports offer a free drop-off facility. They also have a wide variety of options to suit all passengers’ needs, including premium drop-off in front of the terminal building for those who wish to use that.
“The place charges are charged, this helps airports handle and cut back congestion, noise, carbon emissions and air air pollution for native communities, one thing that they’re mandated to do by the federal government and native authorities.
“These charges are a part of the airport business model and help enable the provision of the widest variety of flights from the airport.”
