More than half of Britain’s 20 busiest airports have raised passenger drop-off charges over the past year, according to research published by the RAC. The motoring group said 11 airports increased so-called “kiss-and-fly” fees, with Gatwick, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, Southampton and Stansted joining Heathrow at the top rate of £7 for a brief stop at the terminal curb. Heathrow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Liverpool and Glasgow lifted their prices by £1 to £6, while Cardiff introduced a £3 fee for the first time. Manchester and London Luton are the most expensive on a per-minute basis, demanding £5 for a five-minute stop. London City remains the only major UK hub that still allows free curbside drop-offs. The RAC contrasted the rising UK charges with practices on the continent, noting that nine of the 10 busiest EU airports, including Frankfurt and Paris Charles de Gaulle, impose no comparable fee. Airports UK, the industry body, said the levies help manage congestion and fund environmental measures, and stressed that all airports provide free drop-off areas farther from terminals.