Too bad it is not just the city pair the OP notes. Unfortunately as most of us know this is pretty much they way it is everywhere now for international travel. Rental car companies are not far behind in their long lists of fees. Unfortunately it keeps getting worse.

However there is a limit. I have basically removed the UK from my list of places to visit (for leisure travel) as the taxes have just gotten ridiculous and there are too many other interesting places in the world.