Norwich International Airport will impose a £3 fee on passengers next month, as local airports struggle to make money from the boom in regional flights.
Regional carrier FlyBe, which operates more than 80% of the services from Norwich, reacted angrily, with commercial director Mike Rutter saying: “We are surprised at the plans, having not been consulted. We have called for an urgent meeting.”
The airport plans to install ticket machines and manual payment kiosks to fund an £18 million investment. The charge will come in on April 2, with children aged two to 15 paying £1.
Passengers will have to pass through automatic gates to reach departures and the airport said it would refuse to handle anyone who does not pay.
Norwich managing director Richard Jenner said the fee would secure the future of an airport expected to handle 800,000 passengers this year.
Newquay is the only other UK airport to levy a charge on passengers, having introduced a £5 fee a year ago. Liverpool John Lennon Airport intended to introduce a £2 per head security charge in January, but withdrew in the face of fierce opposition from EasyJet.