Liverpool Airport criticised over £2 queue jump fee
27.07.07
Liverpool Airport has been criticised for making extra money from queues caused by increased security checks. The airport is letting people jump the queues - for a £2 fee, however watchdogs warned the move could increase confusion at airport terminals and punish those who remain in the normal security queues.
Travellers flying from Liverpool Airport can now buy £2 vouchers to be put through a fast lane to the front of the security lines. The airport, which is used by around 5 million people each year, had wanted to make all passengers pay the £2 surcharge when they introduced it earlier this month. It was only after protests from airlines such as easyJet that they backed down and made it a voluntary scheme.
However the Air Transport Users Council, an industry watchdog, says the new measure should still be opposed 'both in principle and in practice'. Council spokesman James Fremantle said: 'Passengers already pay for security as part of their ticket charges - now they're being asked to pay twice over.'
'There are also concerns about whether this guarantees that someone will always get moved through faster, and also what the effect on other passengers might be. Will they get through much less quickly as a result?' He added: 'I wouldn't be surprised if Liverpool's idea was copied by others.'
Liverpool Airport spokesman Robin Tudor said about one in ten passengers a day were buying the vouchers. He added: 'It's a bit unfair to say people are paying twice. While there is a contribution from airline tickets towards security, it certainly doesn't cover anywhere near the cost caused by the huge changes of recent years.'
He said annual security costs had increased by £5 million in recent years as a result of an increased terror threat. If the current rate of 1000 people continue to use the 'FastLane' service each day, the airport could recoup £700,000 in surcharges each year.
The Department of Transport said: 'Our role is to tell airports the security conditions they must meet. We don't tell them how to run their business. If that's what Liverpool John Lennon Airport wants to offer, then we're happy to leave it to passengers to decide.'
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