The cost to drop friends and family off at the airport this summer has increased by a third at most airports across the UK – with some short stays costing a whopping £10
Drop off fees at airports are higher than ever(Image: Chris Radburn/PA Wire)
Dropping off family and friends at the airport this summer will cost you even more as new research has found that fees have increased by a third over the last year.
It was found that 16 out of 20 airports analysed had increased or introduced so-called “kiss and fly” fees since last summer, according to the RAC.
Some airports are now charging as much as £10 just to stop outside the terminal for a few minutes.
The most costly airports are still Gatwick and Stansted, with terminal drop-offs costing £10 at both.
The bigger shock comes as the only major airport that offered free terminal drop-offs, London City, now has one of the costliest fees charged on a per-minute basis.
Drivers dropping off relatives at London City are now charged £8 for five minutes, making it the highest charge per minute among airports included in the research.
The next most expensive drop off zones are outside of England’s capital.
One is in Scotland, as Edinburgh charges £8.50 for up to 10 minutes. Bristol also charges the same fees.
The RAC noted the average cost of airport drop-off fees has increased by around a third over the past year, despite many of the world’s busiest airports continuing to offer free terminal drop-offs.
The organisation highlighted that none of the busiest airports in the European Union charge drivers for dropping passengers off outside terminals.
In some of the world’s busiest hubs, including Dubai, these fees also do not exist.
Most UK airports do have alternative options that are free, however these are usually located in mid or long-stay car parks, with passengers needing to catch a shuttle bus to the terminal.
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: “It’s disappointing to see so many airports charging so much for what many regard as a simple act of kindness in dropping off family and friends.
“Having a captive audience should be no excuse for these farewell fees, especially when they’re completely at odds with how major airports around the world operate.
“Of course, airports need to manage the limited space they have carefully, but if free, convenient drop-off zones work at many other international airports, then why not here?”
Mr Dennis also warned drivers to take extra care when using airports with “park now, pay later” systems without barriers.
He said: “Those that drop off but miss the signage or forget to pay soon afterwards can face a parking charge notice as high as £100 – a fee that feels distinctly disproportionate to the contravention.”
There were only four airports in the study that had not increased their costs. Liverpool John Lennon, East Midlands, Belfast City and Southampton.
Most expensive airport drop-off charges:
£10: Gatwick and Stansted
£8.50: Bristol and Edinburgh
£8: Bournemouth, Leeds Bradford and London City
£7: Aberdeen, Birmingham, Glasgow, Heathrow, Luton and Southampton
Instead, they must give the seat next to a child to the person accompanying them if they are under the age of 14.
The same rule applies to pregnant women or anyone with reduced mobility.
Ryanair used to make adults travelling with children pay one reserved seat fee and then they could select seats beside them for up to four children.
This meant for a usually for a family of four, and additional fee of £8 each way, per adult – if both parents wanted to sit with their children.
= Potential savings: £32
Hidden carry-on and hand luggage fees
Under new rules, airlines will not be allowed to have hidden hand or cabin luggage feesCredit: Alamy
Another trick by airlines to get more money was to charge for suitcases, sometimes even at the gate.
Under the new rules, there will be a baseline for ticket pricing where comparison sites and airlines have to display fares including cabin luggage, from the offset.
Passengers will be allowed a personal item each, which can measure up to 40x30x15cm and a small cabin suitcase weighing up to 7kg.
If you do travel bag-free, some airlines may offer a discount.
For Ryanair, passengers could be set back between £46 and £75 for a standard 10kg cabin bag that hasn’t been booked.
This would rise to between £70 and £75 for any oversized cabin bag, each way.
= Potential savings: £300
Boarding pass fees
Airlines will no longer be able to charge to print off boarding passesCredit: Alamy
Some airlines force you to download their app or create an account just to get your boarding pass.
And if you didn’t and instead wanted a paper boarding pass, often you are forced to pay.
However, under the new rules, airlines cannot force passengers to use the app or charge for a physical boarding pass.
For example, with Wizz Air if you check-in at the airport and they print off your boarding pass this will set you back between £33.92 and £42.20 per person, per way.
= Potential savings:£337.60
Name correction fees
If you accidentally made a typo or spelt your name wrong, you’d often have to pay a fee to have this corrected.
Airlines will no longer be able to charge for correcting a basic typo on a ticket.
A number of airlines allow for allow minor corrections of up to three characters for free, such as Wizz Air and Ryanair.
However, if there is anything more than this or the correction is made less than 48hours before your flight, then Ryanair charges between £115 to £160.
= Potential savings: £640
‘No show’ flight cancellations
If you miss your outbound flight, your return flight will no longer be allowed to be cancelledCredit: Alamy
For some reason or another, you may miss or skip the outbound leg of your return trip.
This previously has resulted in the airline cancelling travellers‘ return flight and as a result, the passenger is forced to buy a completely new ticket – often last-minute and therefore more expensive.
This could even cost thousands depending on the location.
Soon this will change though as passengers with a return trip will be allowed to use their return flight, even if they didn’t take their outbound flight, without any additional fees.
Millions of Brits are due to pack up the budgie smugglers and inflatable doughnuts and head abroad – but there are plenty of sneaky charges and questionable practices that can easily ruin a holiday
Don’t get caught out this summer(Image: encrier via Getty Images)
Are you due to travel abroad for a holiday in the coming months? You’re not alone.
Despite dire warnings of cancelled flights, raising prices and stifling heatwaves, millions of Brits are due to pack up the budgie smugglers and inflatable doughnuts and head abroad.
However, there are lots of extra charges, shoddy practices and other travel traumas that can catch out the unwary traveller. So here’s my guide to some of the holiday horrors that you might not be aware of, so you can get away without a care in the world.
Don’t get caught out by a non-compliant cabin bag
So you’re travelling with just a cabin bag, but it’s looking a bit overstuffed. Beware…
Airlines all have specific rules around the size of your cabin bag (the bigger one) and your hand luggage (the smaller one). Despite what it may say on your suitcase, there is no definitive size for cabin bags, though as a general rule the standard is 56 x 45 x 25cm for the cabin bag and 40cm x 30cm x 15cm for an under-seat (hand)bag. There are also weight restrictions too, with most cabin bags limited to a maximum of 7kg to 10kg.
Standard sizes are all well and good, but airlines can set their own, more restrictive rules around the size of both types of carry-on luggage. So before you travel, it’s vital that you understand their rules – and the consequences of not meeting them.
You’ll need to measure the height, depth and width of your carry-on bags. Missing off the wheels when you check the height is one of the more common mistakes.
But the biggie is over-stuffed bags. Having a bag that meets the criteria when empty doesn’t mean it does when you’ve jammed it full of holiday items. Remember that the bag must fit in to that metal box at the boarding gates if you want to get on your flight without paying extra.
Cheeky add-on charges on your flights
Chances are you’ve already booked your luggage costs as part of your flight booking. But make sure you pack your bags a few days before you travel so you know if you need to add on a hold bag, or are at risk of being caught out by those cabin bag rules.
The closer you get to travel, the higher the price you pay for your bags. So if you’ve not paid for your luggage yet, do it now.
So how much extra will you pay for essential add-on charges? By my calculations, the average prices hover around:
£40 to £50 if you want to take a 23kg hold bag one way.
£30 to £50 for an overhead cabin bag (this has almost doubled since last year – it might be cheaper to share a hold bag for two people).
£6 to £25 for the most basic seat reservation
That’s £76 to £125 each way or £152 to £250 for a return. However, you’ll pay more the closer you are to your flight date.
In addition, watch out for charges to book a specific seat. I was charged over £320 for two return flight seat reservations alone through British Airways recently, just so I could sit with my partner! For shorter haul, the seat prices aren’t as high, but are still outrageous.
In fact, Ryanair has U-turned on charging £8 for families to sit with kids after the the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced an investigation.
You can usually book a specific seat 24 to 48 hours before check in opens. But watch out! There’s usually a massive rush to book and you may miss out. I tested the BA website after I’d paid for my shocking seat prices and the website and app went down on both occasions when check in opened.
Apartment traps and questionable locations
Using online travel marketplaces and apartment rental websites can be a great way to find a fabulous place to stay for your big holiday. But you do have to be a bit cautious about what’s on offer and you’ll need to check to see if the places you like are as good as they seem.
You may already be aware of the warnings about ‘tickers’ – those on-screen alerts that say there are only two rooms left in the hotel, or things are ‘booking fast’. Despite numerous warnings and fines, the industry is still finding sneaky ways to panic us in to buying without checking things thoroughly.
But there are other things to watch out for. Many websites offer hotels and aparthotels alongside private lets. There’s nothing wrong with a private let in theory, but with a hotel, you can complain to the reception if things aren’t as advertised, whereas a private let might limit your options if the host is a bit rubbish.
Check photos thoroughly to see if the advertised facilities are all there, ask questions before booking and look at the reviews – focus on recent ones. Watch out for things like extra bedrooms that turn out to be a sofa bed in the living room. I always look for a personal handover and return of keys too as this is a guide to how good your host is.
The latest thing to watch out for is the location of the property. Many sites list properties as being ‘500 metres from the centre’.
Yet, some of the sites I checked don’t specify which centre. You may find that you’re not 500 meters from the centre of Barcelona, but 500 meters from the centre of a suburb nearby. Check out a map online so you know where the main tourist areas are for your destination and cross reference with the details on the booking website.
Martyn James is a leading consumer rights campaigner, TV and radio broadcaster and journalist
For the first time in 48 years, Japan has changed its visa fee, rising by a staggering five times for foreign nationals, who will need to pay an extra £55 when visiting
Japan has increased its visa fees for tourists(Image: Getty Images)
Japan has dramatically hiked its visa fees for tourists, with the cost of entry now a whopping five times higher.
From Wednesday, 1 July, many foreign nationals travelling to the country home to Mount Fuji will be required to pay 15,000 yen (£69.99) for a single-entry visa, a sharp rise from the previous 3,000 yen (£14). Meanwhile, multi-entry visas will now set travellers back 30,000 yen (£139.98), jumping up from 6,000 yen (£28).
This represents a staggering fivefold increase, meaning visitors will fork out an additional £55.99 for a single trip, or £111.98 for a multi-entry visa. Remarkably, this marks the first time Japan has raised its visa fees since 1978 — a full 48 years ago.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the changes were made to “reflect inflation and exchange rate fluctuations”. He added: “We do not anticipate that it will have an immediate impact on inbound tourism.”
The updated visa fees will apply to all applications submitted on or after 1 July, 2026, as the nation continues to experience a surge in visitor numbers. Last year alone, Japan welcomed a remarkable 42.7 million international tourists, with iconic destinations such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka remaining amongst the most sought-after, reports the Express.
The good news for Brits is that Japan has reciprocal visa exemption arrangements with 74 countries and regions, allowing citizens to enter for short-term stays without a visa. UK passport can stay for 90 days visa-free.
Japan’s new visa charge places it among the pricier destinations to enter globally. Other nations with steep tourist visa costs include the UK, where a standard visitor visa costs £135, and Ghana, where travellers from non-African nations pay $260.
Some countries levy per-night charges, with Bhutan ranking among the most expensive. A daily sustainable development levy of $100 is imposed per adult.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises that Brits travelling to Japan must make sure their passport remains valid for the duration of their visit. The FCDO states on its travel advice page: “No additional period of validity is required. You need a blank page for your visa stamp.”
In guidance on obtaining a visit, the Foreign Office adds: “You can get a visa on arrival in Japan for tourism or business for up to 90 days. You do not need to apply before you travel. If you need a multiple-entry visa, you must ask the immigration officials when you arrive. If you want to stay longer, you can apply at your nearest immigration office for an extension for another 90 days. Your passport must be valid for the period of the extension.”
The FCDO adds: “For long-term stays or to work or study, you must meet the Japanese government’s entry requirements. Check which type of visa you need. It is illegal to work in Japan without the correct visa, no matter how informal or temporary the work.
“If you overstay your permission to remain in Japan, you risk arrest, detention and a heavy fine. For residency information, see the Japanese Immigration Services Agency website and read about living in Japan.”
While there is no advice against travelling to Japan, the FCDO has warned about “global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East.” They stated: “Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights.
“Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East. Before you travel:
Check travel advice for any countries or territories you are transiting through
Check for the latest updates from your airline or tour operator
Review your travel insurance policy for coverage
Monitor local and international media for the latest information and sign up for travel advice email alerts.”
THE EU is in the midst of making huge changes when it comes to air travel and all of them will greatly benefit passengers.
These include no extra fees, better compensation rights and families heading on holiday can sit together at no extra charge – but now we’re out of the EU, the new rights will only carry weight for Brits on certain flights.
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Changes to travel rules in the EU means families no longer have to pay to sit togetherCredit: Alamy
The new regulations were agreed by the EU Council and Parliament yesterday, making it the first overhaul in over 20 years and will come into play in 2027.
Some of the biggest changes include allowing families to sit together at no extra cost, as well as passengers having a free personal item to take onboard.
It will be easier for passengers to get money back for delays or cancellations too.
Airlines will need to immediately acknowledge a claim and then reply within 30 days.
For those who experience delays, there is a right to assistance which includes refreshments every two hours of waiting time, a meal after three hours, internet access and phone calls.
When passengers need overnight stays, they should be given the hotel free of charge and get free transport from the airport to the accommodation and back.
After a cancelled flight or denied boarding, passengers who choose to reroute must be given an alternative journey within three hours.
This all sounds great doesn’t it? Well, there is some bad news – this won’t count for all British travellers leaving the UK.
The new rules will only count on certain flights leaving the UKCredit: Alamy
As a result of Brexit, British holidaymakers won’t necessarily benefit from this as in some cases their flights will fall under passenger rights called UK261.
Whereas for those living in the EU, the new regulations count for all.
For Brits heading on holiday, taking advantage of these EU changes will depend on the route and the airline.
For example, a flight leaving the UK for Malaga with Ryanair will fall under EU rules as Ryanair is an EU airline.
The Malaga to UK return leg will also be under the EU rules – on the return journey, it doesn’t matter if the airline is EU or non-EU, because the flight departs from the EU.
Along with Ryanair, the likes of Wizz Air, easyJet and Lufthansa are all EU-airlines so the new rules automatically count for Brits on both journeys to EU countries.
There will however, be a gap on flights leaving the UK on a non-EU airline.
On EU operated airlines like Ryanair – the new EU rules will apply to Brits on both legsCredit: MoreISO
For example, if a British passenger flies from London to Madrid on a UK airline like British Airways, that outbound leg would remain under UK261 rules rather than the new EU regulations.
But the return would fall under the EU rules because it departs from Madrid in the EU.
So Brits heading on holiday will only get the new benefits if they are travelling on EU-covered flights.
They will not get them automatically on all flights from UK airports.
UK-airlines like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Jet2 won’t fall under the new EU rules.
But these do have their own guidelines and policies regarding families sitting together and luggage costs.
AirAdvisor CEO Anton Radchenko, a renowned aviation lawyer, added: “This agreement is a meaningful step forward for European passengers, and it throws the position of UK travellers into sharp relief.
“For the first time since Brexit, we are looking at a real divergence in the everyday rights of passengers flying from the UK versus those flying from the EU.
“The headline compensation amounts remain broadly aligned, but on the things passengers deal with on every single trip, being penalised for a missed leg, paying to sit next to your own child, comparing fares that hide the cost of a bag, EU travellers are about to pull ahead, and UK travellers are at risk of being left behind.”
The bitter legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over allegations of misconduct and retaliation tied to the making of “It Ends With Us” moved closer to a conclusion Friday after a federal judge ordered Baldoni and his production company to pay Lively’s attorneys fees related to his unsuccessful defamation lawsuit against her, while rejecting her bid for additional damages.
In a 47-page order, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman found that Lively was entitled to recover legal fees under a California law intended to protect people who report sexual misconduct from retaliatory defamation claims, ruling that Baldoni’s side had failed to show she acted with malice when making her allegations.
But Liman denied Lively’s request for treble and punitive damages, concluding that the procedural mechanism her lawyers used permitted recovery of attorneys fees and costs but not broader financial penalties.
Lively’s attorneys, Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb, called Friday’s ruling a victory for their client and emphasized that the judge found “there was no evidence she acted with malice.”
“The Court is awarding Ms. Lively attorneys’ fees and costs and has explained that a prevailing defendant under Section 47.1 may seek damages using different procedural mechanisms,” the attorneys said in a statement. “The parties’ settlement agreement expressly preserves Ms. Lively’s rights to obtain those damages.”
While the judge rejected Lively’s request for additional damages in this particular motion, her legal team said she could still seek them through other legal avenues permitted under the statute.
Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s attorney, sharply disputed Lively’s characterization of the ruling, arguing that the court’s prior decisions had substantially undercut many of her original claims.
“There was no sexual harassment. There was no retaliation. There was no smear campaign,” Freedman said in a statement. “The court recognized it, the record reflects it, and we have maintained it from the very beginning.”
The amount Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios ultimately may have to pay has not yet been determined. Lively’s lawyers must still submit billing records and fee calculations for court approval.
The ruling follows last month’s settlement between Lively and Baldoni, which came just before what had been expected to be a closely watched federal trial in Manhattan. Under that settlement, neither side received financial compensation. But the agreement preserved Lively’s ability to seek attorneys fees and damages under California Civil Code Section 47.1, a relatively new statute designed to shield sexual harassment and assault accusers from retaliatory defamation claims.
Lively sued Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, Wayfarer CEO Jamey Heath and others in December 2024, alleging Baldoni and his associates orchestrated a coordinated effort to damage her reputation after she raised concerns about misconduct during production of the film, which Baldoni directed and co-starred in. Baldoni denied wrongdoing.
Baldoni and Wayfarer later filed a $400 million defamation suit against Lively, her publicist Leslie Sloane and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, that was dismissed last year. Friday’s ruling dealt specifically with whether Lively could recover attorneys’ fees and damages tied to that dismissed suit under California Civil Code Section 47.1.
The latest ruling comes after Liman earlier this year dismissed 10 of the 13 claims in Lively’s lawsuit, including sexual harassment and defamation claims, while allowing retaliation-related claims to proceed.
In Friday’s ruling, Liman wrote that Baldoni’s team had produced no evidence demonstrating Lively acted maliciously when making her allegations.
“Allegations are insufficient on their own to demonstrate that statements were in fact made with malice,” the judge wrote. “That determination requires some evidence.”
Friday’s ruling offered each side new grounds to claim vindication in a legal battle that has played out as much in public statements as in court filings. Lively’s team pointed to the judge’s finding that she acted without malice, while Baldoni’s attorneys emphasized that many of her original claims had been dismissed.
Still, the settlement agreement bars either side from appealing Liman’s ruling, potentially drawing one of Hollywood’s ugliest recent legal fights to a close.
Now, the fee change is being criticised, with passengers and drivers calling it “disgusting” and “mad”.
Meanwhile, taxi operators are being forced to warn customers that the charge will be part of their cab bill when rides are booked.
Mark Streeter, boss of Norwich’s Courtesy Taxis, told Norwich Evening News: “The main annoyance from our side is that we tell customers it’s an extra £5 or so, and now it’s gone up with no warning. So either the customer or the driver has to pay more than expected.”
Norwich Airport has responded to explain that the drop-off fee increase is a result of growing business costs and worsening energy prices.
A spokesperson for Norwich Airport told The Sun: “We understand that no one welcomes increased charges. But our airport group is facing sharp rises in costs, including a tripling of business rates, higher employment costs such as National Insurance and rising energy costs.”
Admitting that there is no choice but to rely on the public to absorb some of the growing costs, the spokesperson added: “At the same time, we continue to invest millions of pounds in maintaining the airport infrastructure needed to provide an essential public service in our regions.
“We cannot keep absorbing these increased costs without passing some of the additional burden on to our customers.”
Norwich’s change in drop-off policy comes alongside Stansted Airport‘s similar changes.
The London airport took its 15-minute express drop-off charge from £7 to £10 in March, with stays of up to 30 minutes now costing £28 instead of £25.
Meanwhile, London Gatwick‘s fee for a 10-minute drop-off now costs £10, up £5 from when it was first introduced in 2021.
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
Iran is reportedly working to solidify its control over the Strait of Hormuz despite U.S. objections by seeking a joint deal to impose fees on ships transiting the strategic waterway with Oman. The move comes amid increasing hopes of a peace deal to end the war that began Feb. 28 and highlights just how difficult it will be to reach such an agreement. Iran’s closure of the Strait has created severe global economic impacts and spurred the Trump administration to stand up Project Freedom, a short-lived effort to provide military protection for ships stuck in the Persian Gulf and trying to get out.
Though U.S. President Donald Trump has insisted the Strait remain open and free of any tolls, Iran is in discussions with Oman, a U.S. ally, to impose financial burdens on vessels passing through the critical chokepoint, The New York Times reported. Together, the countries border both sides of the Gulf of Oman, through which any ship must pass to get into or out of the Strait.
Gulf of Oman. (Google Earth)
Two people familiar with the discussions over management of the waterway said that “Iran was not planning a toll system, which would charge simply for transit,” according to the Times. Instead, the talks with Oman have “explored a proposal to charge vessels fees for services.”
“Oman had initially rejected a joint partnership with Iran on the strait but is now in discussion over a share of the revenues,” the newspaper stated, citing two Iranian officials familiar with the talks. “The officials said Oman told the Iranians that it was willing to use its influence with neighbors in the Gulf, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and with the United States to push the plan, having realized the potential economic benefits of a fee system.”
Iran and Oman “appear to be emphasizing that the proposed system would involve fees, not tolls, a legally significant distinction,” the Times posited. “A tolling system that simply charges ships to pass through the waterway would be illegal under international law, but charging fees for actual services rendered to vessels, such as waste disposal at a port, is allowed under certain circumstances.”
Breaking News: Iran and Oman are in talks over a payment system for ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz, despite warnings from the Trump administration. https://t.co/IuBux7BHnV
On Wednesday, Iran’s newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority declared on X that it has “defined the boundaries of the Strait of Hormuz management supervision area” as the “line connecting Kuh Mobarak in Iran and the south of Fujairah in the UAE in the east of the strait to the line connecting the end of Qeshm Island in Iran and Umm al-Qaiwain in the UAE in the west of the strait.”
Iran’s claimed area of control includes the coastal waters of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman in addition to its own.
1/ جمهورى اسلامى ايران محدودهٔ نظارتى مديریت تنگه هرمز را به این شرح تعيین کرده است: «خط اتصال كوه مبارك درايران وجنوب فجيره درامارات در شرق تنگه تاخط اتصال انتهاى جزيره قشم درايران و ام القيوین امارات درغرب تنگه.» pic.twitter.com/3ELSwYx5Bp
— PGSA | نهاد مدیریت آبراه خلیج فارس (@PGSA_IRAN) May 20, 2026
In the face of Iran’s insistence on controlling the Strait, Rubio on Friday reiterated that the Trump administration rejects any form of Iranian tolling on the Strait.
“That’s just not acceptable. It can’t happen,” Rubio said of any Iranian effort to impose payment for the safe passage of vessels. “If that were to happen in the Straits of Hormuz, it will happen in five other places around the world.”
🇺🇳Secretary of State Rubio cited Bahrain-led and co-sponsored UN Security Council resolution as the definitive international answer to Iran’s proposed tolling scheme in Strait of Hormuz noting it carries the highest number of co-sponsors in the history of Security Council. pic.twitter.com/RYEiAg5h7M
Rubio added that NATO allies are beginning to think through a worst-case scenario if Iran refuses to open the Strait of Hormuz.
“We all would love to see an agreement with Iran in which the Straits are open and they abandon their nuclear ambitions and so forth,” he told reporters. “We also have to have a plan B…We have to start thinking about what do we do if, a few weeks from now, Iran decides ‘We don’t care, we’re going to keep the Straits closed. We’re going to sink any ship that doesn’t listen to us or doesn’t pay us.’ Then someone’s going to have to do something about it.”
BREAKING: Secretary Marco Rubio says NATO allies are beginning to think through a worst-case scenario if Iran refuses to open the Strait of Hormuz:
“We all would love to see an agreement with Iran in which the Straits are open and they abandon their nuclear ambitions and so… pic.twitter.com/jQvHZd8rLv
Since implementing the blockade on Iranian ports on April 13, “U.S. forces have redirected 97 commercial vessels and disabled 4 since the start of the blockade,” CENTCOM claimed on X.
A U.S. Sailor aboard USS Comstock (LSD 45) observes a commercial vessel while enforcing the U.S. blockade against Iran, May 21. U.S. forces have redirected 97 commercial vessels and disabled 4 since the start of the blockade. pic.twitter.com/1Zgsoykhy4
Regardless of the blockade, Japan is anticipating the arrival of the first tanker full of oil that transited the Strait of Hormuz since the war began.
The Idemitsu Maru, a very large crude carrier that passed through the waterway in late April, could dock as soon as Monday, according to the trade ministry. Hauling two million barrels of Saudi crude, the vessel is on track to arrive at Idemitsu Kosan Co.’s Aichi refinery, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a briefing document on Friday, according to Bloomberg News.
The announcement highlights the difficult choices many nations now have as a result of the war. Japan is a key U.S. ally and risks running afoul of Trump, who maintains opposition to Iranian control of the vital waterway, including tolls on shipping levied by Iran, something Trump vehemently opposes. But Japan is also one of the world’s importers of Middle Eastern oil and the inability to get what it needs as a result of the Iranian Strait closure is having dramatic economic effects.
Japan is about to receive the first Persian Gulf oil shipment to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the Iran war began https://t.co/Inb3yOuGfM
Most of the ships passing through the Strait under the new Iranian system “were linked to Southeast Asian nations that maintain friendly relations with Iran,” the official state broadcaster IRIB claimed on Friday in a post on X.
Most ships that passed through the Strait of Hormuz with Iran’s permission, were linked to Southeast Asian nations that maintain #friendly relations with IRAN. https://t.co/hqPmBBC1Yz
— IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) (@iribnews_irib) May 22, 2026
There has been a large increase in the number of Iranian-trading tankers at anchor off the country’s main oil export port of Kharg Island in the past week, according to the Windward maritime intelligence firm’s multi-source intelligence (MSI) analysis.
“MSI images show 27 tankers off Kharg Island as of May 21, including 18 assessed as very large crude carriers (VLCC),” Windward reported. “This has expanded from 14 tankers a week ago on May 14, a 93% increase. All were ‘dark’ and not broadcasting their position via AIS.”
Windward “assesses the majority of VLCCs at anchor off Kharg Island are being used for floating storage. About two-thirds of Iranian-trading tankers are now constrained in the Gulf of Oman or Arabian Gulf by the U.S. blockade. The remaining third are either waiting at ports off China or at anchor off the Riau archipelago, in Malaysia’s EEZ.”
The number of Iranian-trading tankers at anchor off Iran’s main oil export port of Kharg Island has increased by 93% in the past week, according to Windward’s multi-source intelligence analysis.
While numbers observed off Kharg Island are gaining, tankers anchored off the… pic.twitter.com/uYbVQschty
Trump convened a meeting with his senior national security team on the war with Iran on Friday morning, Axios reported Friday evening, citing two U.S. officials.
The president “is seriously considering launching new strikes against Iran barring a last-minute breakthrough in negotiations, sources who have spoken directly with the president say,” the news outlet stated.
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and other officials attended the meeting along with Trump, the sources told Axios.
Hours later, Trump issued his cryptic message on Truth Social about not attending his son’s wedding due to “circumstances pertaining to Government.”
NEW: Trump convened a meeting with his senior national security team on the war with Iran this morning.
He is seriously considering launching new strikes against Iran barring a last-minute breakthrough in negotiations, sources say. https://t.co/dN7UuWUcGe
Iran insists it is ready with new tactics, weapons and a threat to extend the conflict beyond the region should a new round of fighting break out.
Iran’s state-run Tasnim News Agency has said that the Iranian Armed Forces is preparing for any possible U.S. attack, adding that a third round of fighting would involve new equipment, targets, tactics, and war strategy, along with additional trans-regional fronts that extend… pic.twitter.com/fsuv7Dfdx6
There are growing indications that the U.S. and Iran could be moving closer to a deal to end the war. However, both sides are poised to resume fighting as major sticking points remain over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, its control over the Strait of Hormuz and the future of its ballistic missile arsenal as well as U.S. sanctions.
In a sign that progress has been made in talks to reach a deal, Pakistani and Qatari negotiators are now in Tehran.
Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has arrived in Tehran as part of ongoing mediation efforts and upon arrival he was received and warmly welcomed by Iranian Minister for Interior Eskandar Momeni, per ISPR https://t.co/I6yk6BlpvYpic.twitter.com/DToLp4OJ0J
“Field Marshal Asim Munir, is traveling to Tehran on Friday in an effort to reach a deal under which the U.S. and Iran would agree to end the war and launch negotiations for a broader agreement,” Axios reported on Friday, citing a Pakistani security source.
The Qatari negotiating team arrived in Tehran on Friday ”in coordination with United States to help secure a deal to end the war with Iran and resolve outstanding issues,” Reuters reported on X, citing a source with knowledge of the matter. “Doha, which has worked as a mediator in the Gaza war and other areas international tensions, had till now distanced itself from playing a mediation role in the Iran war after it came under attack from Iranian missiles and drones during the latest conflict.”
(Reuters) – A Qatari negotiating team arrived in Tehran on Friday in coordination with United States to help secure a deal to end the war with Iran and resolve outstanding issues, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Friday. Doha, which has worked as a…
Confirmation of Munir’s trip to Tehran, from several media outlets, came after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there was “slight progress” in negotiations with Iran.
“I don’t want to exaggerate it, but there’s been a little bit of movement, and that’s good,” Rubio said at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Sweden, on Friday.
In a post on X, the Saudi-based Al Arabiya news outlet claimed it has obtained a “final draft of a possible agreement between the United States and Iran, mediated by Pakistan” that is “expected to be announced within hours.”
The purported details of the nine-point plan are as follows, according to the publication:
Immediate, comprehensive, unconditional ceasefire on all fronts, including land, sea, air.
Mutual commitment not to target military, civilian or economic infrastructure.
End to military operations and halt media war.
Commitments to respect sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs.
Guarantees freedom of navigation in the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.
Joint mechanism to monitor implementation and resolve disputes
Negotiations on outstanding issues would begin within seven days.
Gradual lifting of US sanctions in exchange for Iran’s commitment to the terms of the agreement.
Draft agreement reaffirms compliance with international law and UN Charter.
🔴 BREAKING: The final draft of a possible agreement between the United States and Iran, mediated by Pakistan, is expected to be announced within hours, according to Al Arabiya sources. Its key terms include the following:
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) May 22, 2026
However, the reported draft agreement does not explicitly mention Trump’s key demands, including the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program and export of its stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium, limiting its ballistic missiles and ending its support for Iranian proxies like Hezbollah, the Houthis and several groups in Iraq.
Trump has repeatedly stated that Iran must dismantle its nuclear weapons program, turn over the enriched uranium and reopen the Strait.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Iran:
“Right now, we’re negotiating, and we’ll see, but we’re going to get it one way or the other. They’re not going to have a nuclear weapon.” pic.twitter.com/wfjJBoOZVi
Given the American leader’s stance on the issues, it seems unlikely that he would agree to such a deal as stated by Al Arabiya. TWZ cannot verify the validity of these details. Asked if they are accurate, the White House gave us the following response:
“Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, and while President Trump always prefers a diplomatic solution, he has been clear about the consequences if Iran refuses to make a deal,” a White House official told us. “As the president stated, he will only make a good deal for the American people. He is not going to be rushed into making a bad deal. Due to the successes of Operation Epic Fury, Economic Fury, and the blockade, President Trump holds the cards and has all the time he needs to make the best deal for the United States and the world.”
The White House, however, pushed back on a Reuters report that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei told his country’s decision-makers not to agree to any deal to remove enriched uranium out of the country. A White House official told Fox News that the claim is untrue and that as of yet, no decision has been made on the matter by either side.
The White House has told Fox News that recent reports from Reuters on the supreme leader’s edict to Iranian decision-makers not to accede to a deal where enriched uranium is moved out of Iran are untrue and that as of yet, no decision has been made on the matter by both sides. pic.twitter.com/ZF36aCMLit
With the status of the peace process uncertain, Trump claimed he decided not to attend the wedding this weekend of his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., to socialite Bettina Anderson due to “circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America.”
“I feel it is important for me to remain in Washington, D.C., at the White House during this important period of time,” Trump stated on Truth Social.
President Trump announces his official decision on attending his son’s wedding this week — he’s not going.
This comes after he said yesterday it was bad timing because of the Iran issue. pic.twitter.com/cha3QO14Uo
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) May 22, 2026
Amid talk of diplomacy, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) indicated that the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, loitering in the Arabian Sea, “is maintaining peak readiness while enforcing the U.S. blockade against Iranian ports.”
The post messaged that should negotiations break down, the U.S. is ready to resume attacking Iran should Trump so order.
U.S. Navy fighter jets launch from aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in the Arabian Sea. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is maintaining peak readiness while enforcing the U.S. blockade against Iranian ports. pic.twitter.com/VdgD1S8jrB
For its part, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to push the war “beyond the region” if the U.S. or Israel resume attacks, promising “crushing blows … in places you cannot even imagine.”
Iran has warned the United States of far-reaching consequences in the event of any renewed act of aggression, amid President Donald Trump’s repeated military threats and deadlines.https://t.co/i7ppAoGfym
Despite a bombing campaign that top U.S. officials say has severely crippled Iran’s ability to produce drones and missiles, Tehran has reportedly used the six-week old ceasefire to rearm far faster than anticipated.
“While the time to restart production of different weapons components varies, some US intelligence estimates indicate Iran could fully reconstitute its drone attack capability in as soon as six months,” CNN reported on Thursday, citing a source familiar with those assessments. “The Iranians have exceeded all timelines the IC had for reconstitution,” the US official said.
The network claimed that Iran is “rebuilding…military capabilities, including replacing missile sites, launchers and production capacity for key weapons systems destroyed during the current conflict.”
Iran “also still maintains ballistic-missile, drone-attack and anti-air capability despite the serious damage inflicted by US-Israeli strikes,” the network claimed, citing recent US intelligence assessments. That means “the quick rebuilding of military production capacity isn’t starting from scratch.”
These efforts are being aided by China and Russia, CNN added.
While the time to restart production of different weapons components varies, some US intelligence estimates indicate Iran could reconstitute its drone attack capability in as soon as six months, one of the sources said. https://t.co/u9mxm0hB8D
The U.S. military “has depleted much of its inventory of advanced missile-defense interceptors after expending far more high-end munitions defending Israel amid hostilities with Iran than Israeli forces used themselves,” The Washington Post reported, citing Defense Department assessments.
“The imbalance, according to three U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters, underscores the extent to which Washington has shouldered the burden of countering Iranian ballistic missile strikes duringOperation Epic Fury, and raises questions about U.S. military readiness and security commitments around the world,” the publication added. “The United States launched more than 200 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, interceptors in defense of Israel — roughly half of the Pentagon’s total inventory — along with more than 100 Standard Missile-3 and Standard Missile-6 interceptors fired from naval vessels in the eastern Mediterranean, said the U.S. officials, who, like others in this article, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters.”
By contrast, the newspaper noted, “Israel fired fewer than 100 of its Arrow interceptors and around 90 David’s Sling interceptors, some of which were used against less sophisticated projectiles fired by Iran-backed groups in Yemen and Lebanon.”
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao on Thursday testified before the Senate that the U.S. is pausing arms sales to Taiwan because of the war with Iran.
“Right now we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury,” Cao told Sen. Mitch McConnell.
During the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee hearing earlier today, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told senators that arms shipments to Taiwan have been paused, saying “Right now we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic… pic.twitter.com/DIcQCBh5hq
Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S. Olga Stefanishyna, however, told Politico Washington Bureau Chief Dasha Burns that the war with Iran has not yet affected U.S. weapons shipments to Kyiv. Still, she said American military officials told Ukraine “there’s nothing that could be guaranteed for the future.”
Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S. said the war with Iran has not yet affected U.S. weapons shipments to Kyiv, but said American military officials told Ukraine “there’s nothing that could be guaranteed for the future.”
The war is facing increasing opposition in Washington. House Republicans on Thursday “abruptly canceled a vote on a resolution directing Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from Iran or win approval from Congress to continue the war, after it became clear they lacked the votes to defeat the measure,” The New York Times reported. “The retreat was a striking setback that exposed fractures within the G.O.P. over the conflict at a moment when the party has begun pushing back forcefully on Mr. Trump and his agenda.”
Breaking News: House Republicans abruptly canceled a vote on a resolution directing President Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from Iran or win approval from Congress to continue the war, after it became clear they lacked the votes to defeat the measure. https://t.co/2YCMl8GIbj
In another sticking point to a peace deal, Israel continues to hit Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) on Friday released video it claims struck a structure in which five Hezbollah fighters “were located north of the forward defense line in southern Lebanon and eliminated.”
אתמול, חיל-האוויר תקף מבנה בו היו חמישה מחבלי חיזבאללה צפונית לקו ההגנה הקדמי בדרום לבנון וחיסל את המחבלים, בהכוונת כוחות צוות הקרב של חטיבה 551 בפיקוד אוגדה 146. pic.twitter.com/S4fGQLK35e
HIDDEN airline fees are getting so ridiculous, passengers are now just ditching their luggage entirely.
Airlines – although budget ones in particular – now charge as much as £70 for cabins bags that are oversized.
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Budget airlines are charging so much for excess luggage, that people are leaving their suitcases or half their gearCredit: Alamy
One dad told Seattle Times how he was charged $35 for his extra luggage fee, while his son opted for throwing all of his food away to avoid the costs.
Another frequent traveller told them: “Sometimes, I’ve abandoned so many clothes that I no longer need a checked bag.”
It’s become so bad in some places like Japan that they have introduced signs saying: “Abandon your luggage and you will be charged.”
Others on Reddit say some tourists visiting cold countries leave all the heavy ski and thermal gear at their hotels to avoid having to pack it on their flight.
PayPal (PYPL) will waive about $30M in transaction processing fees to settle a Department of Justice probe into what the agency called a “DEI Investment Program” that was created to support minority-owned businesses.
easyJet, TUI and Jet2holidays are some of the UK’s biggest package holiday providers
05:07, 10 May 2026Updated 08:57, 10 May 2026
Jet2holidays, TUI and easyJet all make passengers aware in advance(Image: Ceri Breeze via Getty Images)
Travellers planning to book holidays with easyJet, Jet2, and TUI are being cautioned by the travel firms that they could face additional charges they may not have previously been aware of.
With summer now just around the corner, millions of Brits are eagerly looking forward to a well-deserved break in the sun. easyJet, TUI, and Jet2holidays rank among the UK’s biggest package holiday providers, with countless travellers turning to them to arrange all manner of trips overseas – and 2026 is set to be a busy one.
When browsing the respective websites, customers can explore a vast range of holidays and will be presented with a price for their chosen trip. Each of these operators helpfully outlines why these holidays may carry extra costs, and how much travellers might be expected to fork out.
It all comes down to tourism taxes. The amount you’ll pay depends on your destination, the length of your stay, and whether you’re travelling during peak season.
Alongside the quoted price for your holiday, whether booked through TUI, easyJet, or Jet2holidays, you’ll also find an estimated tourism tax figure for the full duration of your trip. This is typically payable directly at your accommodation upon arrival.
In any destination where a tourism tax applies, all holidaymakers will be required to pay a standard rate – regardless of which airline or travel operator they have chosen to book with.
