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Last week, Blackpool International Airport announced that it is to start charging passengers ten pounds. Although they will subsequently be offered free parking for up to fifteen days from the day of departure, the scheme is a controversial one. The ten pound charge is part of a new plan announced by the airport bosses, which aims to increase the popularity of the airport across the northern region of England.

The charge will be introduced in the beginning of January and will be charged under the title of ‘Airport Development Fee’. Only those passengers aged sixteen and over will be subject to the charge and David Kershaw, the chief executive of Blackpool International, believes that the fee will help to develop the airport.

Kershaw was keen to divert the focus away from the implications of the ten pound charge to the benefits of free parking. He revealed that Blackpool will become the only international airport in the country to provide free parking for passengers and “a fresh marketing drive” will also ensure that many more passengers are attracted to the “hassle-free” airport.

Some people have expressed concern over what exactly the ten pound charge will be used for. David Kershaw revealed that it will support “investment from the owners to improve facilities” and help in the fight to attract new airlines to provide a wider range of routes, which in turn will attract more passengers from across the north of England. The airport bosses also announced a two million pound investment scheme which will upgrade the runways and generally improve the facilities available to passengers.