According to RAC research, more than half of the UK’s busiest airports have increased the “kiss-and-fly” fee for cars leaving passengers close to terminals.
The motoring group found that 20 out of 20 UK airports had planted prices since last July, including Gatwicks, Bristols, Leeds Bradford and Southampton in charging Stanstad for a few minutes to charge a top rate of £ 7 to park for a few minutes.
In contrast, nine out of the 10 busiest airports in the European Union has no drop-off fees.
Airports UK, which represents the industry, said that all hubs offer free drop-off options from terminals, such as “parks and rides” features where people can leave their cars and bus at the airport.
London Heathro, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Liverpool all increased their prices from £ 1 to £ 6 for 10 to 20 minutes.
RAC also found that the Cardiff Airport had introduced a fee for the first time, asking for £ 3 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, the London Luton and Manchester Airport are the most expensive based on cost-print, research showed, drivers paid £ 5 for five minutes.
Senior policy officer at RAC Rod Dennis said: “The driver is a prisoner audience and so we feel that the airport is very keen on such fees. But honestly, for a stop, £ 7 which cannot exceed 10 minutes, does not look a little standing.
“And the fact that these costs keep growing year -to -half, I think it’s going to be a great source of disappointment to leave a friend or love someone in this summer.”
In the RAC survey of European airports, the hub, including Frankfurt and Paris Charles de Gaul, did not charge anything. In the Netherlands only Shipol asked € 2.50 (£ 2.17) for kissing-and-fly.
Airports UK CEO Karen D said: “Where the fees are charged, it helps the airports to manage and reduce the crowds, noise, carbon emissions and air pollution for the local communities, something that is mandatory to do them by the government and local authorities.
“These fees are a part of the airport trade model and help enabling the provision of broader variety of flights from the airport.”
London City was the only in the airport list that did not charge any fee.
A spokesperson to Gatvik said: “Drop of charge helps limit the number of cars and reduces the crowd at the entrance of our terminals and gives money to many sustainable transport initiatives.”
It states that a blue badge holder, who is a parking permit for people with disabilities or for health conditions affecting mobility, is exempted from charges.
Birmingham, Edinburgh, Heathro, Liverpool and Southampton also said that blue badges holders are free from fees.
Leeds Bradford Blue allows the blue badge holders to use pick-up and drop-off area for an extended time of 60 minutes for the same £ 7 charge.
A spokesman from Southampton said on raising his kissing-and-fly prices: “All the funds generated through our parking facility are reinstated in the airport and play an important role in achieving new routes for the region.”
The BBC has approached other airports for comments.
