Councillor Neil Butterworth hits out at “money-grabbing” Manchester Airport

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Councillor Neil Butterworth
Andy Burnham fundraising dinner

Councillor Neil Butterworth has hit out at “money-grabbing” Manchester Airport, slamming latest plans to charge drivers £3 a time to drop off passengers at the airport.

He has criticised bosses of abusing the airport's position as the North’s dominant airport to “rip off”passengers at every opportunity.

The Milnrow and Newhey Labour councillor is asking the Leader of Rochdale Council, Allen Brett what powers the council has as a shareholder to challenge the “grubby and mean” decision.

Councillor Butterworth said: “Like many passengers, I’m getting fed up at being ripped off by Manchester Airport every time I go on holiday.

“Already, you are charged £3 to pick up passengers who have landed. Now they want to charge another £3 when you’re dropped off to catch your flight. It’s outrageous.

“They are abusing their almost monopoly position as the North’s biggest airport. People feel they’re being mugged every time they catch a plane. It’s almost enough to ruin your holiday.

“They must have a whole department thinking up ways of fleecing hard-pressed customers. They charge £1 to use a luggage trolley, but unlike supermarkets, they don’t give it you back. They force us to wait in long queues to get through security - and then have the cheek to charge a fiver if you want to skip the delays.

“They are making millions out of these scams and it’s about time they stopped treating us like mugs.

“Their excuse that it will cut congestion is laughable. Who is going to load all their luggage on a coach a mile away just to avoid the charge?  It’s just a grubby and mean money-making con.

“We should be teaming up with the other Greater Manchester shareholders - who between them own two thirds of the company - to demand big changes.

“The dividend paid to councils is welcome - particularly in these times of cuts - but we should value the millions of passengers who use Manchester Airport every year and  already help them make big profits. We should not be abusing their loyalty.”