British airports now have a tax on hugs and kisses.

Many British airports (such as Heathrow, Gatwick, London City, Bristol and others), from 1 January 2026, have introduced tariffs, even very heavy ones,  for drive someone by car to the terminal and stop for a few minutes to say goodbye before the plane takes off. Maybe just to give a kiss or a hug to those leaving: that's how the "hug tax" was born.

The tax is called drop-off fee (from the name of the area where the passenger is usually left) and varies, like an hourglass, based on the time spent at the airport and the rules for each British airport. London City Airport, for example, you pay around 8 pounds for the first 5 minutes and then 1 pound per minute (up to a maximum of 10 pounds). Previously, access to the airport was free, as wasat Heathrow airport (here the fare is around 8 euros) and Gatwick airport (where instead the drop-off fee is 10 pounds).

Obviously, this mini-blow to the detriment, as usual, of the less well-off people who perhaps accompany an emigrant relative to the airport and want to stay with him until the end and hug and kiss him before he gets on the plane, is presented as "a measure green”, inspired by a choice in favor of (false) sustainability.

The hug tax is supposed to reduce the use of private cars to reach British airports (hence, less pollution, traffic, and emissions) and encourage the use of public transport, in the name of sustainable mobility. In reality, any excuse is a good one to rake in extra cash, increase the revenues and profits of airport management companies, famous for their enormous profits and for harassing passengers with every expense, from the airport tax paid on airline tickets to coffee and drinks, including mineral water, which are priced at a premium at airports.

As for Italy, we are always at the forefront when it comes to inventing expenses on the shoulders of consumers, and for some time now, in the most important airports of the country, the system has existed kiss and go (literally: a kiss and off you go), which provides for a time  limited parking, usually between 5 and 15 minutes, And then, more than passengers, the taximeter goes out of service. Because even a hug, at an airport, is expensive.

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