Going on holiday can come with a long list of expenses, from flight tickets and luggage fees to the often-overlooked cost of being dropped off at the airport.

However, these charges are now set to come under Government scrutiny.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has agreed to review soaring airport drop-off fees following significant price hikes in recent years.

According to a study by the RAC, charges have risen by as much as a third since summer 2025 across many major UK airports.

Of the 20 airports analysed, 16 have increased their fees, which are typically charged to motorists dropping passengers off as close to the terminal as possible.

Gatwick and Stansted currently impose the highest charges, with drivers paying £10 for just ten minutes at Gatwick and 15 minutes at Stansted. Edinburgh and Bristol follow, charging £8.50 for a ten-minute stay.

In a statement, the DfT said ministers have committed to the review 'because it is vital to ensure travel remains accessible and that passengers are treated fairly'.

'In the meantime, we hope airports exercise restraint on rises, particularly where there are limited public transport alternatives,' a spokesman added.

Fury has grown regarding the cost of airport drop-offs as of late.

The RAC said none of the ten busiest airports in the EU charges for drop-offs, and neither do other major international hubs such as Dubai, Shanghai and Istanbul. 

Unlike many airports in Europe and the US, most airports in the UK are managed and operated as private businesses, and parking arrangements are subject to contractual agreements between airport operators and car parking companies.

Earlier this year, RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: '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.

'Of course, airports need to manage the limited space they have carefully, but if free, convenient drop-off zones work at many other international airports, then why not here?'

Supporters of the fees have argued they encourage travellers to use public transport instead, which is more environmentally friendly.

'Airports outside the UK are typically publicly owned and in receipt of state subsidies and tax exemptions, while UK airports are generally privately owned and subject to the full array of commercial rates of taxation,' Karen Dee, chief executive of AirportsUK, which represents airports, told the BBC.

Industry body AirportsUK said earlier this year the fees 'are necessary to manage congestion, and the traffic and air pollution concerns of local communities, as well as our climate change objectives'. 

Most airports have free alternatives to drop-off zones - where these are far from the terminal, free shuttle buses are often provided.