HEATHROW Airport passengers will now be charged an extra £8.90 to fly from the airport as part of a “pandemic tax”.
The fees will be enforced from April to cover costs lost during the pandemic.
The new charge will be charged by airlines who claim the fee is due to costs being increased from the airport including baggage, handling and other costs.
This means a family of four face an extra £35.60 on top of their flights due to the new tax.
The airport said no profit was being made as it was only to cover the additional operating costs, and may only run until the end of the year.
While other airports including London Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester has said they won’t be following suit, experts have warned it may set a trend.
Deputy chairman of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) John Tangney said: “If Heathrow gets away with it, most other airports worldwide are likely to copy this highly unwelcome initiative.”
Heathrow Airport has lost more than £2bn due to the pandemic, with passenger numbers dropping by 73 per cent.
Other taxes which are already in place for all travellers are Air Passenger Duty, which is at least £13 depending on the flight, and take-off fees of £22, according to the Times.
It follows plans from Gatwick Airport to charge £5 for all drop offs at the North Terminal, along with Heathrow Airport.
Passengers travelling through Heathrow Airport have been forced to quarantine at hotels if returning from one of 33 “high-risk” countries.
Costing £1,750, arrivals must quarantine for 10 days.
The first couple released from 10 days quarantine at the hotels celebrated by going straight to McDonald’s.
