Now passengers have to pay £1 to use airport luggage trolleys

Air travellers are to be hit with yet another expense, as a major airport begins charging them to use luggage trolleys.

From next month it will cost £1 if you want a trolley to ferry luggage around at Luton airport.

For those returning home from the continent without any British currency, it will cost an even pricier two euros.

Luton, owned by the Spanish group TBI, is Britain's fourth biggest airport, used by around ten million passengers a year.

It is expected to earn millions from the coin-operated trolleys.

The system being introduced is similar to the one which operates at many supermarkets – with the crucial difference that users do not get their money back when they have finished with the trolley.

Profits from the service will be shared between the airport and a German company, Bagport, brought in to supply and maintain the trolleys.

The Air Transport Users Council, Britain's air passenger watchdog, attacked the extra passenger charges.

Spokesman James Fremantle said: 'This is becoming ridiculous. Airports and airlines are charging for everything these days.

'Elderly people might do themselves a nasty injury if they don't want to pay. This is a step too far and we would hope other airports do not follow suit.'

Airport users already pay the Government's passenger duty – £10 per head on short-haul flights and £40 on long-haul – as well as hefty parking charges.

Several airlines serving Luton already impose fuel surcharges and baggage check-in fees. There is also a growing trend for budget airlines to charge extra for those with multiple bags.

But the airport defended the trolley scheme. A spokesman said: 'We are bringing in these charges to improve facilities. The contract with Bagport will ensure that quantities of high-quality trolleys are available when and where they are required.'