A SOLIHULL cabbie has protested at new charges for using a "rapid drop-off" point at Birmingham International Airport, accusing it of profiteering from the terrorism threat.

David Nock, who plies for hire from the Poplar Road taxi rank, complained he had to pay £1 for the short time it took to set down a passenger near the terminal buildings.

"The fare didn't have much luggage to delay her, she paid me and the whole operation didn't take more than a few seconds," he said. "But when I went to leave the car park the machine rejected my ticket and I couldn't get through the barrier. I had to get out of my cab and pay £1. I was delayed for about five minutes, which was annoying. Time is money.

"I didn't know anything until then about cabbies having to pay a parking fee for just dropping off a passenger and I am angry about this. I think the airport is using the threat of terrorism to make money."

Following the attempted terrorist attack at Glasgow Airport where a burning jeep was driven into the building, the traditional set-down lane outside BIA has been closed.

The short-stay car park near the terminal buildings has now become a "rapid drop-off" area, with drivers charged £1 for a stay of up to 20 minutes and £3 for every 15 minutes after that.

Free drop-offs will be permitted for 30 minutes in long-stay areas and a shuttle bus will ferry passengers to the terminals.

John Morris, the airport's head of corporate affairs, said: "For the foreseeable future, our set-down roads will remain closed, so we have responded to improve the flow of traffic on the approach roads to the terminals, enable people to get in and out of the airport quick-ly and help them unload from vehicles safely. "We are giving drivers a choice: free parking will be available for 30 minutes in the long-stay car parks; alternatively they can use the rapid drop-off facility."