Business travellers dropping colleagues or clients at UK airports this summer may face steeper charges, as more than half of the country’s airports have increased or introduced “kiss and fly” fees over the past year.
The charges—levied for dropping passengers close to terminal entrances—now apply at 19 of the 20 UK airports analysed by the RAC, with only London City offering free terminal drop-off.
The RAC’s latest research reveals that 11 airports have raised fees since last summer, with Bristol, Gatwick, Leeds Bradford, Southampton and Stansted now charging £7. Heathrow, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Liverpool John Lennon follow at £6. In contrast, eight of the ten busiest EU airports—including Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt and Madrid—continue to offer free drop-off.
Rod Dennis, senior policy officer at the RAC, criticised the trend, noting that passengers often rely on car drop-offs due to bulky luggage or tight schedules. He also raised concerns about the shift to barrierless payment systems, which require online or phone payment and can result in fines if overlooked.
While most UK airports offer free drop-off zones further from terminals, Dennis warned these are often inconvenient and may lead to overstaying the free period. Airport trade body AirportsUK defended the charges, citing their role in managing congestion, emissions, and supporting airport operations.
With prices frozen at Aberdeen, Belfast International, Bournemouth, East Midlands, Manchester and Stansted, and new charges introduced at Cardiff and Luton, the landscape for airport access continues to shift—posing a growing cost consideration for business travellers and their drivers.