Motorists dropping off passengers at UK airports are facing the steepest charges ever recorded, with more than half of the country's busiest airports increasing their fees compared to last year, according to new data.
In total, 11 airports across the UK have raised their prices, with some implementing increases of up to 33 per cent.
The most expensive facilities now charge £7 for brief stops, whilst Manchester and London Luton have introduced particularly punitive rates of £1 per minute.
The widespread price rises mean that London City Airport stands alone amongst the top 20 UK airports in still permitting free drop-offs near the terminal.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing motoring@gbnews.uk
PA
|Drivers are facing huge price hikes for dropping off friends and family at airports
However, drivers must avoid waiting in vehicles or leaving them unattended to escape penalties.
Belfast City Airport imposed the steepest percentage increase, raising charges by a third to £4 for 10 minutes.
Newcastle, London Heathrow, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Liverpool all increased their fees by £1, now charging between £5 and £6 for stops of 10 to 20 minutes.
Manchester and London Luton have emerged as the most expensive airports on a per-minute basis, demanding £5 for just five minutes of stopping time.
PA
|More than half of the airports around the UK have hiked their drop-off prices
This £1-per-minute rate means that, remarkably, a return flight from Manchester to Turkey in August works out cheaper per minute than the drop-off charge.
London Gatwick, Stansted, Bristol, Leeds Bradford and Southampton now all charge the maximum rate of £7, while Glasgow increased its fee to £6 for 15 minutes.
Cardiff Airport has joined the charging trend this year, introducing a £3 fee for 10 minutes, leaving London City as the sole survivor offering free drop-offs amongst the UK's 20 busiest airports.
RAC analysis reveals that eight of the EU's 10 busiest airports, including Paris Charles de Gaulle, Madrid, Barcelona, Frankfurt and Rome, continue to offer free drop-off facilities.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Rod Dennis, senior policy officer at the RAC, said: "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.
"The seemingly annual ritual of many airports hiking the cost of drop-offs is unfortunately continuing unabated."
Dennis explained that while airports need to manage limited on-site space, many offer short-stay free parking that is often situated far from terminals.
"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," he said.
PA
|Drivers are consistently advised to book ahead when booking airport parking
The expert highlighted another growing concern, noting that airports were abandoning on-site payment in favour of barrierless drop-offs requiring online or phone payment afterwards.
"This is another source of frustration for people who, in many cases, are just trying to help a family member or friend get to the airport," Dennis noted. "Anyone who doesn't notice the change or simply forgets to pay will inevitably be stung with a very unwelcome parking charge notice."
According to RAC research, the primary reason drivers use airport drop-offs is to assist passengers with bulky and heavy luggage.
Dennis pointed out that alternatives are often impractical, with conventional buses difficult to use with multiple cases and taxis subject to the same drop-off charges, while also being costly.