UK Airport Drop-Off Charges Soar

13th July 2023

Last modified on July 20th, 2023

The RAC says charges for drivers have gone up by by almost a third at UK airports over the past year.

Stansted airport remains the most expensive at £7 for 15 minutes.

The biggest rises are at Southampton and Belfast.

Southampton International airport raised its fee from £4 to £6 for 20 minutes.

Belfast International airport has hiked prices from £1 to £3 for 10 minutes.

• London’s Heathrow costs £5 with no time limit
• London’s Gatwick charges £5 for 10 minutes
• Manchester airport costs £5 for 5 minutes
• London Luton charges £5 for 10 minutes
• Edinburgh costs £4 for 10 minutes.

Airports say the higher fees are to stop drivers from lingering and they help to keep flight costs down.

The Airports Operator Association told the BBC the increased revenue helped “keep charges to airlines lower” and helped “maximise the range of flights that can be offered to all passengers.”

Gatwick airport. Image © PlanetSKI

2022 Was Hottest Year On Record in Switzerland

It led to its glaciers melting at three times the rate previously considered extreme.

“For Switzerland, 2022 was the hottest year in history,” said the Swiss Environment Ministry.

“The year 2022 was the warmest and sunniest year since measurements began in 1864. While the annual average temperature for 1991 to 2020 was 5.8 degrees Celsius (42.4 degrees Fahrenheit), that of 2022 was climbed to 7.4C (45.3F)”.

In the summer of 2022 Swiss glaciers lost 6% of their mass.

We reported on it at the time last year:

• Switzerland launches plan to try to save glaciers
• Swiss glaciers loose half their mass in 85 years

Mont Fort glacier, Verbier. Image © PlanetSKI

There used to be around 1,500 glaciers in the Swiss Alps.

All have shrunk and many no longer exist.