Norwich Airport

The airport tax is irritating but just about acceptable if in the end it does lead to some improvement in the facilities. I no longer use this airport although I live locally simply because of the aggressive humourless and unpleasant behaviour of the security staff. Airport security is absolutely vital for all of us but it can be achieved in a thorough but pleasant way not in the aggressive and intrusive way that staff at this airport behave. I have encountered no other security staff quite like them not even in the United States at the height of terrorist alerts. For a time we flew regularly from here but have now had enough and go to Heathrow.

We travelled to Mallorca last week we were told of the problem with the aircraft when checking in so we decided to go to the Holiday Inn and McDonald's to pass the time. When we returned to the airport we went through to departure lounge. We were due to fly at 1.35pm at 5.30pm we were informed that we were to be bussed to Stansted for a flight at 2.35am. My issue is with what happened next there was no organisation to load buses cases were just dumped in the check in area and we were left to find buses when they arrived it was a free for all. When you have children with you you feel under pressure to try and sit with them. We bought some food for the journey in the airport which was expensive only to be given the same when on the coach would have been helpful to relay this earlier this would have saved us spending more money. Although this delay was not down to Norwich Airport the way it was dealt with could have been improved.

After using Norwich Airport 4 times in the last four years and paying the so called airport development fee which now stands at £10 per adult it is disappointing to see no discernible improvement to the main areas that affect the holiday traveller. The drop off and pick up point has no covered waiting areas and are open to the elements all year round. The baggage reclaim area has had no improvement and is overcrowded when handling the larger aircraft and lastly the terminal bar is greatly overpriced and on each of my visits understaffed. Not a pleasant travel experience.

Upon arrival at the airport after flying overnight from the states we were left outside the terminal to wait for entry into the arrivals area. Luckily it wasn't raining but freezing cold and windy. The departure lounge was spacious and empty. I am assuming the 10 pounds airport tax we have to pay on top of the taxes we pay when purchasing the airline tickets will provide at the very least a shelter from the elements. The staff were friendly and helpful the amenities clean and well supplied.

An ok provincial airport but for the weird £10 surcharge for getting into Departures. If you have a choice I'd suggest going somewhere else - even Stansted is better and only about an hour down the road. Won't bother using Norwich again.

Norwich airport flatly refuses to provide water fountains for travellers and if you ask for free water at the cafe it is frowned upon. Norwich have an ever increasing services tariff which is a thinly veiled surcharge and yet provide little in return. The seats are hard the allowable drop off times are ridiculously low and the seats are hard. If you possibly can then there are better flying options until they actually realise that a decent level of service should be provided.

We had to abandon our holiday to Tenerife on 15 Jan 2013 at 17.00 at Norwich 'International' Airport. We had arrived on the 14 at 15.00 for the Thomson Airways Flight No. 5180. Delays were apparently due to the ground equipment on the first day and also time taken to de-ice the aircraft on two consecutive days before snow arrived even though it was forecast. We sat on the aircraft ready to leave as weather was good on the 15th but had to disembark because of the failure of the airport to do their job. When an experienced pilot stands in the aisle and says he has never known any airport to take so long to de-ice a plane so that slots are missed someone is not doing their job. Adverse weather conditions are not your fault but how you react to them definitely is. How long before Thomsons also pull out of our local airport? Fly Norwich 'International' Airport - as a very last resort.

Norwich Airport is the most half hearted operation imaginable. Commercial passengers are given the impression that they are a bit of a nuisance and attempts to keep their numbers to a minimum with the £10 service charge high car parking charges minimal choice of destinations and a generally apathetic air have been remarkably successful. The lack of arrivals or departures does not result in a speedy check in and the airport is liable to close if weather conditions are anything less than ideal. I have lived in Norfolk for over 30 years and would love the convenience of a local airport but invariably travel via Stansted or Gatwick.

Stopped using Norwich airport some months ago. A shame as it's only a few minutes from my home. I'd rather travel to Stansted or Heathrow. Poor facilities and airport development fee are the reasons.

In the 1980's and 1990's I was a strong advocate of using Norwich to fly the world via Amsterdam. But no more. To call it Norwich International is now a joke with only one scheduled international service via Amsterdam. FlyBe is not the only airline that has voted with its feet and largely taken its routes elsewhere as a result of Norwich's shameful £10 Airport Development Fee. Far from improving the facilities the fee seems largely to have gone to lining the pockets of the owners Omniport. At one time the short stay-car park was reasonably priced now it is outrageously expensive with a ridiculously short time of free parking allowed when dropping off or picking up a passenger. I am greatly saddened by the airport's lack of progress in attracting and keeping new routes it could and should have been a huge local success story.