To recoup the billions of pounds, two-thirds of airports increased motorist drop-off costs.

Increased “drop-off” costs at more than two-thirds of airports penalize those who transport their loved ones to the terminal.

According to RAC research, 16 of the 22 biggest airports in the UK have raised or added so-called “kiss and drop” fees since the outbreak.

The price increases are an effort to make up for the billions of pounds that airline companies have lost since March 2020. However, the RAC said that this summer, dropping off individuals was “more costly than ever.”

According to the report, London Stansted now charges drivers £7 for 15 minutes and a whopping £25 for every further time. Prior to the epidemic, 10 minutes cost £4.

Fees for London Luton have increased from £4 for 13 minutes to £5 for 10 minutes, with each additional minute costing £1. Gatwick charges £5 for 10 minutes, whereas Heathrow charges £5 for an indeterminate amount of minutes. Before the epidemic, dropping off vacationers at any location was free.

The drop-off cost at the airports in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Glasgow has been quadrupled to £4 for ten minutes.

“Drop-off charges were meant to encourage travelers to use public transportation to get to the airport, but with strikes impacting the rail network this summer and limited public transportation options at some airports, people will understandably seek more reliable ways to get [there],” said Nicholas Lyes, the head of RAC’s roads policy.

Introducing the fee, according to a Heathrow official, would “help avoid a car-led recovery from the epidemic and minimize airport-related traffic.”