Analysis by the RAC shows that Bristol Airport is one of seven top UK airports that have further increased their prices for drop-off parking since last summer.

The RAC used data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) which showed four major airports have increased drop-off charges by £1, and three others have increased these charges by 50 pence. Bristol Airport is now £6 for 10 minutes. 

RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: “It’s depressing, if perhaps unsurprising given what’s happened in the past, to see seven airports have hiked their drop-off charges once again this year.

“To have to pay £5, £6 or even £7 for the briefest of stops to simply open the boot and take some luggage out for a friend or loved one is bordering on the ridiculous.

“Increased charges at airports that have relatively poor public transport access – for instance, no direct rail or tram link – also seems pretty unreasonable.

“Some airports say the reason they charge for drop-offs at all is to discourage people from driving in the first place, but if the alternatives are non-existent, expensive or unreliable then what choice do people really have?

“Our research also clearly shows that a major reason for driving and dropping off is the practical challenges of travelling with heavy and bulky luggage, especially if you have elderly or very young people in tow.

“If the only public transport to get to an airport is, for example, a pretty impractical double-decker bus, it’s no wonder people turn to the car.

“Fortunately, most of the country’s busiest airports have frozen their charges this year and travellers have to hope things stay that way.

“For anyone having to drop off this summer, we strongly urge them to keep their goodbyes extremely short so they don’t stay a moment longer than they’re paying for.

“It’s also worth remembering that many airports offer free or cheaper short-term parking further away from the terminal. This might be significantly less convenient, but it does save money.”

More CAA annual airport data and the full analysis can be found via the CAA website.