Terminal fees go up in Caap-run airports

HIGHER CHARGE Starting April 21, all airports managed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines will hike their passenger service charge or terminal fee, which is included in the price of a plane ticket. —NAGA AIRPORT/FACEBOOK

Plane tickets are set to become pricier following a hike in the passenger service charge (PSC) effective on April 21, according to a memorandum issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) ahead of the summer season when travel demand usually picks up.

In its Memorandum Circular 019-2025 signed on April 4, Caap announced that the PSC for international flights will rise to P900 from the current P550.

For domestic flights, passengers will have to pay P350 if they are departing from international airports; P300 for principal class 1 airports; P200 for principal class 2 airports; and P100 for community airports.

The PSC for domestic flights is currently at P200.

“The adjusted PSC rate will take effect for flight tickets purchased by April 21 onwards,” Caap said.

“Any passenger refusing or failing to pay the required passenger service charge shall be prevented from boarding the aircraft,” it added.

The PSC or terminal fee is included in the price of an airline ticket. Proceeds from the payment of this fee goes to airport maintenance and improvement.

Exemptions

All passengers are charged this fee except for children below two years old, transit passengers, overseas Filipino workers going abroad and passengers who were denied entry.

HIGHER CHARGE Starting April 21, all airports managed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines will hike their passenger service charge or terminal fee, which is included in the price of a plane ticket. —KALIBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT/FACEBOOK

The circular covers all airports operated by CAAP, including those in Laoag, Vigan, Tuguegarao, Basco, Cagayan, Romblon, Puerto Princesa, Busuanga, Naga, Legazpi, Masbate, Iloilo, Kalibo, Dumaguete, Siquijor, Tacloban, Caterman, Calbayog, Zamboanga, Pagadian, Camiguin and General Santos.

The memorandum, however, does not cover Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) as any price increases are governed by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Administrative Order 1.

Naia to follow suit

In Naia, the PSC is set to go up during the second year of the takeover of New Naia Infra Corp. (NNIC), which started operating the country’s primary gateway in September last year.

The said fee will increase from P550 to P990 for international departing passengers and from P200 to P390 for domestic departing passengers.

According to the order issued by MIAA, the passenger fees will be adjusted again in the sixth and 11th years of the 15-year concession period.

If the contract of NNIC is extended by another 10 years, adjustments on the fees will be done again on the 16th and 21st year of the concession period.

Data from the Civil Aeronautics Board showed that airlines flew 59.91 million passengers last year, showing 11 percent growth from 53.78 million in 2023, as travel demand sustains its momentum.

The latest figures showed the recovery nearing prepandemic levels when passenger volume reached 60.06 million in 2019. Airline operations were heavily disrupted by COVID-19 in 2020 as the rapid spread of the virus grounded aircraft and forced a global lockdown.