Airlines to collect airport development, security fee from fliers effective Aug 16

Dhaka: Air travellers using the services of the airports in Bangladesh will now have to pay newly imposed fees aimed at funding airport development and strengthening passenger security, announced the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh last month in a notice.

All airlines operating to and from Bangladesh will begin collecting the fees for tickets issued from August 16, said a spokesman for CAAB.

Outbound passengers flying to SAARC countries will have to pay USD 06 for passenger safety and USD 05 for airport development while those flying to other countries will pay USD 10 for both.

Domestic passengers, however, will be charged with BDT 70 for passenger safety and BDT 100 for airport development.

The move follows CAAB's efforts to ensure further passenger security, increase quality service and develop the infrastructure of the airports in Bangladesh, the CAAB spokesperson added.

However, on top of the fees, fliers will also have to pay 15 per cent value-added tax (VAT), according to a notice issued by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) at the end of July, making air travel costlier than before in a time of crisis.