Motorists and taxi drivers launched an angry attack on Aberdeen International Airport’s new £1 drop-off charge introduced yesterday.
Drivers now face a £30 fine if they outstay their 10-minute welcome in the barriered zone at the busy terminal.
Non-airport taxi drivers also have to pay the fee out of their own pocket.
If phoned or booked online, taxis in the city can add the £1 charge to their customers’ fares, however cabs flagged down in the street cannot.
Any changes to the current tariff system would have to be approved by Aberdeen City Council’s taxi consultation group and licensing committee.
Yesterday, Stevie Robertson, taxi representative for the Unite union in Aberdeen, said: “We can’t do anything at the moment until we go to the consultation meeting for permission to pass on surcharges.
“I would say some drivers can be in the airport six to seven times a day, some more, but it is an overhead we have to absorb.
“There’s not a lot we can do until we have permission. I would like to think it will be done and dusted by summer.”
Airport bosses say they introduced the £1 fee as part of a drive to reduce congestion and improve safety during peak times.
Mr Robertson added: “It is a big issue, it is annoying. In my eyes, the airport authorities made a move when they got rid of the traffic wardens six or seven months ago. There was never a traffic issue then.”
Scott Carle, convener of the council’s taxi consultation group and licensing committee said the latter would consider a change to airport journey fares.
He said the fare changes could be implemented as part of the council’s ongoing fares review.
Mr Carle said: “There will be extensive consultations with the trade and obviously if they bring it up it will be considered.
“The trouble is the airport has created a two-tier system for taxis without consultation with the council or the trade.
“There should have been consultations with the trade by the airport before they took the decision.”
One taxi driver dropping off customers at the airport yesterday said: “When you think of the money they’re going to take in, it’s just money-making. You could be here once a day or two or three times a day, it just depends.”
An Aberdeen International Airport spokeswoman said the implementation of the charge had “gone smoothly” yesterday.
She added: “Everyone seems to have taken to it.”