Drivers dropping off passengers at Birmingham Airport now face a £7 charge for just 15 minutes of parking near the terminal, as the summer holiday season intensifies. The fee places Birmingham among 16 UK airports that have increased so-called 'kiss-and-fly' charges, according to the RAC.
Cost Comparison and Industry Context
The RAC reports that the average UK cost for such drop-off parking has risen by a third this year. For comparison, Gatwick Airport charges £10 for ten minutes, while Stansted Airport charges £10 for 15 minutes. Notably, none of the ten busiest airports in the European Union impose drop-off fees, nor do major international hubs like Dubai, Shanghai, and Istanbul.
Rod Dennis, senior policy officer at the RAC, expressed disappointment: 'It's disappointing to see so many airports charging so much for what many regard as a simple act of kindness in dropping off family and friends. Having a captive audience should be no excuse for these farewell fees – especially when they're completely at odds with how major airports around the world operate.' He added that if free, convenient drop-off zones work at many international airports, they should be feasible in the UK.
Warnings About Pay-Later Zones
Dennis urged drivers to be 'extremely careful' when using park now, pay later drop-off zones, which lack barriers. He warned: 'Those who drop off but miss the signage or forget to pay soon afterwards can face a parking charge notice as high as £100 – a fee that feels distinctly disproportionate to the contravention.'
Airport Industry Defense
A spokesperson for AirportsUK, the industry body, defended the charges: 'Where drop-off fees are charged, these are a part of the airport business model and help support the provision of the widest variety of flights from the airport. They are also necessary to manage congestion, and the traffic and air pollution concerns of our local communities, as well as our climate change objectives. These are issues that airports are mandated to manage by the Government and local authorities.'
The spokesperson contrasted UK airports with those abroad: 'Airports outside the UK have a different business model – typically being publicly owned and in receipt of state subsidies and tax discounts. The UK airport sector is, in contrast, generally privately-owned and paying full commercial rates of taxation.'
Alternative Free Drop-Off Option
Birmingham Airport also offers a free drop-off car park, located approximately a five to ten-minute walk from the main check-in desks via a footpath. A regular, wheelchair-friendly, free bus service connects the car parks to the terminal. The airport was approached for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.
