Motorists have been warned they face enormous charges of up to £7 for briefly stopping at major UK airports, with some charging as much as £1 per minute.

The high cost has now prompted campaigners to call on the Government and UK airports to intervene and help reduce the hefty fees.

Calls for action follow fresh analysis, which revealed that over half of Britain's busiest airports have increased their drop-off charges within the past year.

The controversial fees, supposedly implemented to reduce congestion and emissions, have sparked widespread criticism as travellers face mounting expenses simply for helping relatives reach their flights with luggage.

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Research found that Belfast City Airport imposed the steepest increase, raising charges by a third to £4 for 10 minutes, while Newcastle Airport now demands £5 for the same duration, up from £4 previously.

London Heathrow, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Liverpool have each added £1 to their fees, now charging £6 for periods between 10 and 20 minutes.

The highest rates were found at London Gatwick, Stansted, Bristol, Leeds Bradford and Southampton, which all demand £7 for drop-offs, while Glasgow increased its charge to £6 for 15 minutes.

London Luton and Manchester airports were found to charge the most per minute, requiring £5 for just five minutes of stopping time, equating to £1 per minute.

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John Wilmot, chief executive and founder of LeaseLoco, stated: "We're continually seeing rising drop-off prices with no standard approach across airports, meaning many drivers are getting caught out by unclear signage, complex online payment systems, or charges they weren't even aware of.

"These soaring costs are effectively a tax on love, as airports are cashing in on those who want to enjoy a few moments with their loved ones before they jet off overseas."

Rod Dennis, senior policy officer at the RAC, highlighted the growing trend of barrier-free systems requiring online payment afterwards, describing this as "another source of frustration" for motorists attempting to assist family members reaching airports.

Both organisations warned that inconsistent rules and payment methods across different airports have created unnecessary confusion for visitors unfamiliar with varying procedures.

The situation contrasts sharply with major European airports, where RAC research discovered that eight of the EU's 10 busiest hubs, including Paris Charles de Gaulle, Madrid, Barcelona, Frankfurt and Rome, continue to provide free drop-off zones.

Dennis noted: "It's also revealing that the tendency to charge drivers to drop close to terminals isn't something that's repeated right across Europe."

Popular holiday destinations such as Nice and Marseille also maintain complimentary free areas, highlighting the UK's increasingly isolated position on airport charges.

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Drivers have been facing huge price hikes for dropping off friends and family at airports

The RAC's analysis found that Manchester's drop-off rates mean a return flight to Turkey costs less per minute than the brief stop required to unload passengers and luggage at the terminal.

Wilmot urged airports to implement "simple, on-the-spot ways to pay, rather than expecting drivers to hunt down the right website later and risk a fine if they don't."

"Ultimately, drivers shouldn't be penalised for simply helping friends and family get to their flights on time," he stated.

To help drivers save money, Dennis recommended keeping farewells brief to avoid exceeding time limits and setting reminders for airports requiring online payment within 24 hours.