Flight Tickets Will Become Costly As Govt Hikes Aviation Security Fee: How Will This Impact Airfares?

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, air travel internationally as well as domestically has fallen down in significant numbers. The revenue generated by airlines are not just less but also burdened.

Consequently, the brunt even though shall be beared majorly by the airline employees in the form of cost-cutting measures, a significant part of this loss in revenue shall put load on the pockets of common man too.

As a result, the civil aviation authorities have decided to charge a higher aviation security fee, or ASF from both, domestic as well as international passengers, starting from September 1.

Government Resolves to Hike ASF Prices

If you are going to travel by air on September or later, get ready to experience a slightly costlier experience.

For domestic passengers, the ASF charged will be Rs 160, increased from Rs 150, while the same for international passengers will be charged at $5.2, up from $4.85.

These changes in fee is expected from September 1.

ASF Hiked for the 2^nd Time in Just 2 Years

For those of you who do not know the purpose of an aviation security fee, this amount is collected by the airlines and given directly to the government.

Airlines use this fee amount to fund and look after all the security arrangements carried forward by the authorities at all airports around the country.

However, this isn’t the 1^st time that the government has hiked ASF price.

Last year, on June 2019, the ASF amount was increased for domestic passengers from Rs 130 to Rs 150, while that for international travelers was increased from $3.25 to $4.85. The change was implanted from July 1, 2019.

Why is Airline Authority Increasing the ASF?

As mentioned earlier, the Covid-19 pandemic has vividly affected travel, directly lashing out on airline services for domestic and international travels, not just in India but around the world.

All the Indian airlines went forward with cost-cutting measures, like pay cuts, leave without pay and employee lay-offs, in order to minimize their costs.

Despite the government reopening domestic air routes on May 25 (two months after the nationwide lockdown), the airlines are still running on just 50-60% of their capacity.