Travelled from Norwich airport this morning, checked in etc, then before i went through security there is a big sign saying "dont forget your airport development tax" (and you need a ticket to get through the barrier)
Any way i collard one of the security guards who marched me to a machine, where i had to put £3 in to get a ticket, "what the F... is this" i say, his reply
" well sir we are developing the airport and this ticket is a requirement for you to travel "
Ive been to a lot of airports in the last few years and this is the first ive heard of anything like this......what a fking rip off.......................No wonder we get tagged "rip off Britain"

Never heard of it. Obvious suggestion is don't travel through Norwich Airport.

Dunno if it's legal or not, I wonder what they would have done if you said "no chance".

We often fly to Ireland, a small airport in Kerry (Faranfore). For several years they had a similar scheme, you had to pay although it was never mentioned on tickets etc, it was about £5. It was supposed to be for airport improvement - over the many years I've been going I've not seen any improvements, other than the car park has been altered and the car park is paid for seperately.
Since the introduction of airport taxes generally the surcharge has been dropped.
It does seem a rip off but not exclusively in the UK.

It does seem a bit of a scam but at least there was a big sign telling you about it.

and i was going anywhere until i paid it

Friend of mine was a solicitor in the UK. He flies all over the place running his business and doesn't have a problem going back to England unless he flies direct from Beijing into London, which he did recently.

So the stewardess comes round with what he thought were landing forms and tried to give him one and he said 'no need I've got a British Passport.'

She says 'everyone has to fill one in,' so he took one shoved it down the side of his seat and got off the plane.

He gets to Immigration at Beastrow, and guess what errmm...ethnic appearance and accent the bloke had?? So he gets asked 'where is your landing form??' My mate says 'I don't need one, I've got a British Passport.' 'Oh yes, everyone need one,' says the Immigration gadgy. 'Well show me the law that says I need one,' says my mate. "I cannot let you in without one,' says the Immigration feller.

"Go and get your Boss,' says my mate.

Zip went the scanner and through went my mate.

Moral of the story: eat all the shit you're fed and you'll never be hungry. But they will know where you are, what you've been up to, and how you did it. And your diet will stink.