Passenger £1 drop-off fee start

The airport has also introduced £1 charges for trolleys and plastic bags

Luton Airport in Bedfordshire is due to introduce a £1 charge for dropping off passengers at its terminal.

Drivers will have to pay the surcharge to spend up to 10 minutes in a drop-off zone, airport managers said.

Last July it introduced a £1 fee to use its trolleys and the same amount is also charged for the clear plastic bags used to take liquids through security.

The airport said passengers could be dropped off at the mid-term car park to catch a shuttle bus to avoid the levy.

The fee will be collected at barriers at the exit to the drop-off zone.

'Careful consideration'

The airport said the new zone has more space for people to unload, as well as larger bays for disabled passengers or people with reduced mobility.

Speaking when the plans were first considered, Nic Horton, Luton's general manager of projects and development, said: "Dropping passengers off can be a stressful experience.

"We have therefore given careful consideration to providing the right facilities and enough time for people to unload in a secure environment.

"Making a small charge reminds drivers of the 10-minute time allocation and keeps the traffic flowing.

"By offering a choice of options we can provide an airport experience to suit the needs of all our passengers."