STARBUCKS is charging more for its food and drink at airports — in a further blow to holidaymakers.
Items cost as much as 33 per cent more than in the chain’s high street outlets, an audit by The Sun on Sunday found.
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It sells a bacon roll for £4.35 at Gatwick’s North Terminal compared with £3.25 at a branch in the nearby town of Crawley — a difference of 33.8 per cent.
A Hickory Ham and Cheese sandwich at the airport sets customers back £5.29 compared with £3.99 — a hike of £1.30 or 32.6 per cent.
A Chicken, Mozzarella and Pesto focaccia is £5.80 but only £4.55 on the high street.
Grande-sized lattes and cappuccinos are selling for £3.85 a pop at airports, including Gatwick, compared with £3.45 outside.
Hot chocolates are also 40p more at £3.75.
At Manchester Airport, we found an All Day Breakfast Wrap on sale for £4.80 and an almond croissant for £3 — compared to £4.15 and £2.35 in nearby Cheadle.
A large latte or cappuccino is £3.45 — 15p more than the £3.30 price at the Market Street branch in Manchester.
A steak and cheese panini is £5.15 in the terminal but £4.65 on the high street.
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At Stansted Airport, Essex, a Chicken, Mozzarella and Pesto focaccia is £5.45 when it is £5.30 at the Boreham branch near Chelmsford.
And a Hickory Ham and Cheese sandwich is £5 compared with £4.75 in Boreham.
Last night critics blasted the hikes — coming after travellers endured airport chaos caused by lengthy queues and staff shortages.
Sarah Coles, senior personal finance analyst at investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown, called the prices “eye-watering”.
She added: “They are the last thing people need if they’re caught in airport chaos.”
Martyn James, of consumer complaint-handling group resolver.co.uk, said: “It’s another example of holidaymakers being hit in the pocket.”
Last week Starbucks bosses moaned they could be forced to sell the UK business after being hit with soaring costs and lack of footfall linked to commuters opting to work from home.
The firm — which has faced years of criticism over the amount of tax it pays in the UK — did not respond to requests for comment.
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