Manchester Airport to charge £1 for trolleys

Manchester Airport will start charging passengers £1 to access their trolleys from April.

The airport has announced plans to invest over £1 million in replacing its ageing luggage trolleys with lighter and easier to manoeuvre trolleys.

They will also be GPS-enabled allowing 'hot spot' areas to be adequately stocked so there is a trolley available when passengers need one.

The current fleet has been in service since the 1990's and were due to be scrapped at the end of the year.

Julie Armstrong, Customer Services Director for Manchester Airport, said: "Since 2007, we've invested over £100 million in creating a modern airport by refurbishing our terminals and upgrading our airfield which is why we are consistently voted as the best in the UK by our passengers. It's also important to get the basics right which is why we are also investing over £1 million in new luggage trolleys.

"But we have to acknowledge that to continue making multi-million pound investments in the airport when the cost of air fares are reducing, means that airports can't continue to provide services like trolleys for free. We know that charging for trolleys will not be a popular decision, which is why we are following the advice of consumer groups and informing passengers before they get to the airport. With around 5% of passengers using trolleys at the moment, this method ensures that only the user pays rather than spread the cost across everyone."

All of the trolley vend machines will have a change facility, as well as the current change machines located across the airport. Travellers will also be able to pay by credit card in all three international arrivals at Manchester Airport.

The new trolleys will be introduced on 10th April 2012.