Dramatic increases in the cost of airport drop-off charges will be formally investigated by the UK Government.
A report by the RAC found 16 of the UK’s 20 busiest airports had upped fees for dropping off by an average of one third since last summer.
It means the typical price charged for using a ‘kiss-and-fly’ zone jumped by £1.70 in one year, reaching an average of £7.
Such a rapid rise in prices, along with the estimated £300 million in revenue generated for UK airports each year, has caught the attention of the Department for Transport (DfT).Â
As reported in The Times, the government has committed to a 12-month review of drop-off fees. It also hopes that airports will ‘exercise restraint on rises, particularly where there are limited public transport alternatives,’ during the period of the investigation.
An expensive holiday extra
The RAC’s research into drop-off fees found that London City airport was the most expensive of all, charging the equivalent of £1.60 per minute to drop passengers at its terminal. Passengers could potentially pay up to £8 for the five minutes allowed.
Manchester Airport, which costs £5.50 for five minutes (equivalent to £1.10 a minute), is the next priciest site on a per-minute basis.Â
These are followed by London Gatwick on £1 a minute, then Edinburgh and Bristol (85p a minute) and Leeds Bradford (80p a minute).Â
Perhaps most relevant for the DfT’s investigation is the fact that fees for kiss-and-fly zones are seemingly a UK phenomenon. None of the top 10 busiest airports in the EU charge for drop-offs.
Goodbye to farewell fees?
Following the report of a government investigation, Rod Dennis, RAC senior policy officer, commented: “This will be music to the ears of drivers, as we know airport drop-off charges are a growing source of anger and frustration.Â
“We’ve brought national attention to the issue by calling out these fees over many years, so are pleased they will now be scrutinised. Four-in-five drivers we’ve surveyed believe they are a ‘rip-off’, with just one-in-10 understanding why airports charge what they do.
“Our most recent analysis found 16 of the top 20 UK airports increased their drop-off fees between this summer and last, with average prices rising by a third to £7.
“But such ‘farewell fees’ are at direct odds with most other major airports overseas, where drivers can drop passengers off close to terminals free of charge. If convenient, free drop-off zones work at so many international airports, why not here in the UK?”
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