india

Updated: Jun 08, 2019 21:42 IST

Air travel is set to become costlier from the next month as the civil aviation ministry has levied an aviation security fee (ASF) of ₹150 per domestic passenger and $4.85 per international passenger from July 1, an official statement said.

“Aviation Security Fee for the domestic passengers will be levied at the rate of ₹150 per embarking passenger. Aviation Security Fee for the international passengers will be levied at the rate of US$ 4.85 or equivalent Indian Rupees per embarking passenger,” an order issued by the ministry of civil aviation on Friday said.

The ASF that will be applicable from 00.01 hours of July 1, 2019, will replace the security component of Passenger Service Fee [PSF (SC)], it said. Currently, PSF (SC) is ₹130 per passenger for tickets issued against Indian rupees and $ 3.25 per embarking passengers for tickets issued against foreign currency, it said. The fee is expected to be used to pay security dues at various airports.

Airport operators have been demanding to raise passenger security fee for a long time as they were unable to carry on day to day security related operations.

According to a Hindustan Times report, published on August 8, 2017, the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which operates the capital’s airport, wanted the fee to be raised. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which provides security at the airport, had written to the civil aviation ministry seeking its intervention in release of mounting dues from DIAL.

At that time Delhi airport owed CISF ₹655.40 crore for the services of the security force. In response to CISF’s plea, DIAL had blamed low security fee and lack of fee revision. “DIAL is working in fiduciary capacity on behalf of government and utilising the funds as per the directions given by government authorities from time to time. It is unfair that DIAL is being projected as responsible for non-payment or delayed payment. The fact of the matter is that airport security is a sovereign function reserved for Government of India, hence it is the primary responsibility of ministry of civil aviation to ensure payment of dues to CISF,” DIAL had said.