Norwich Airport tax rebels to be grounded
17.09.07
Passengers who consistently refuse to pay the controversial airport tax at Norwich Airport are put on a blacklist and could be banned from flying from there in future, the Eastern Daily Press (EDP) reports.
The £3 Airport Development Fee (ADF) - aimed at generating £18m to improve the airport - has come in for criticism from the airport's main flight operator, Flybe, since it was introduced in April. It has emerged that while passengers who refuse to pay the fee at check-in are allowed on their flight in the first instance, those who continue to refuse to pay will be placed on a database and could be prevented from boarding in future.
A letter signed by Norwich Airport's managing director, Richard Jenner, is sent to each non-payer warning they should pay next time they fly or 'not book flights from Norwich International.' It says: 'On this occasion you were allowed to travel because you may not have been aware of the ADF when you booked your flight.'
'However, please note that if you travel from Norwich International Airport in future, you will be expected to pay the ADF. If you again refuse to pay the fee, your name will be placed on a database and we reserve the right to deny boarding on your flight.'
'I very much hope you will continue to use Norwich International Airport. The vast majority of our passengers are content to pay the ADF, which is used to improve facilities at the airport. However, unless you are prepared to pay the fee I would ask you not to book flights from Norwich International.'
Airport spokesman Louise Wilkinson told the newspaper that the names of 105 customers who have consistently refused to pay the ADF are on a database, which represents 0.02 percent of the half a million passengers who had travelled through Norwich International since April. She said that refusing a passenger access to the departure lounge would be 'an absolute last resort. We would hope to come to some kind of solution before that happened.'
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