Parking fees at major UK airports have significantly risen over the past year, leaving drivers to contend with steep costs.

Recent research from the RAC reveals that drop-off charges at four major airports have increased by approximately £1 for a 10-minute stay.

London Gatwick now charges £6 for a 10-minute drop-off, Edinburgh £5 for the same duration, Birmingham £5 for 15 minutes, and Bristol £6 for 10 minutes.

At the same time, prices at Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, and Aberdeen airports have risen by 50p compared to last year.

Despite the recent increases in drop-off fees, nine airports have opted to keep their charges unchanged this year. Additionally, London City, Cardiff, and Inverness airports continue to offer free drop-off zones.

At London Luton Airport, passengers can currently drop off for free for up to 20 minutes in the Mid Stay Car Park, following last October’s fire that closed the airport’s Drop Off Zone. Previously, Luton charged £5 for a 10-minute drop-off, but suspended these fees after the fire incident.

Conversely, London Stansted remains the priciest UK airport for drop-offs, with a charge of £7 for up to 15 minutes.

Leeds Bradford Airport follows as the next most expensive, charging £6.50 for a 10-minute drop-off, with London Gatwick and Bristol close behind as the third most expensive.

Glasgow and Aberdeen both charge £5.50 for 15 minutes, while Manchester Airport sets a fee of £5 for a five-minute stay.

According to data from the RAC, 81% of drivers consider these fees to be excessive, with 71% expressing a desire for free drop-off options. Only 13% of drivers surveyed stated they understood the reasons behind airports charging for drop-offs.

Rod Dennis, senior policy officer at the RAC, remarked, “It’s disheartening, though not unexpected given past trends, to see seven airports raising their drop-off fees once again this year.”

Dennis highlighted that increased charges at airports with limited public transport options, such as no direct rail or tram links, appear unjustified.

He also noted that some airports implement higher fees to discourage car travel to the airport, advocating instead for public transport alternatives like coaches and trains.

According to RAC research, one of the main reasons for driving and dropping off at airports is the practical difficulty of transporting heavy and bulky luggage.

Dennis clarified that visitors to London Heathrow or Gatwick should note that it is no longer possible to pay the drop-off charge in person at either airport.

Instead, drivers must pay online through the official airport website or by phone to avoid potential fines.