It is not just drivers dropping off passengers at Norwich Airport who have been left frustrated by price hikes.

New research has found that so-called 'kiss and fly' charges have increased at more than a third of major UK airports in the past year.

Bosses at Norwich Airport last month defended raising drop-off fees for the second time in five months.

A 30-minute time slot was initially increased to £4 in December and then went up again to £5 in April.

A spokesman for Norwich Airport explained: "Car parking revenue helps sustain airport operations and investment so that we can continue to offer people the choice and flexibility of flying from their local airport.

"Our car parking charges are in line with many regional airports and reflect the rising costs that all businesses are having to bear."

Norwich Evening News: Norwich Airport's managing director Richard PaceNorwich Airport's managing director Richard Pace (Image: Norwich Airport)

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Now an RAC investigation has found that eight of the 21 UK airports analysed have raised or introduced charges for dropping off passengers since August 2022.

The biggest upswings are at Southampton and Belfast International. The former has raised its fee from £4 to £6 for 20 minutes, while the latter has hiked its price from £1 to £3 for 10 minutes.

Belfast City previously allowed drivers to drop passengers near its terminal for free, but this now costs £3 for 10 minutes.

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Aberdeen, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford and Liverpool John Lennon airports have each added £1 to their fees.

Despite not raising its price this year, Stansted continues to top the table for the most expensive drop-off cost at £7 for 15 minutes.

Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport, has frozen its fee of £5 - the same price as Norwich - with no time limit.

Norwich Evening News: Norwich Airport charges the same drop-off fee of £5 as the UK's busiest airport, HeathrowNorwich Airport charges the same drop-off fee of £5 as the UK's busiest airport, Heathrow (Image: PA Wire)

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RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “Doing your research ahead of travelling has never been more important.

“Many airports offer a free or reduced-rate drop-off area away from the terminal in long-stay car parks where travellers can hop on a shuttle bus connection, saving their driver incurring more expensive charges nearer the departures building."

Cardiff, Inverness and London City were the only airports analysed which allow free drop-offs outside terminals.

Jo Rhodes, deputy editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, added: “These latest figures come as a stark reminder that holiday budgets are being stretched at every turn."