The Air Security fee (ASF) has been increased by the Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), making air travel costlier from April 1. While the rise in ASF for domestic passengers is ₹40, for international passengers, the rise is ₹114.38.
ASF is one of the elements of air tickets that are used to fund the security arrangements across the country. “Aviation Security Fee for domestic passengers will be levied at the rate of ₹200 per embarking passenger. Aviation Security Fee for international passengers will be levied at the rate of US$ 12 or equivalent Indian Rupees embarking passengers. The new rates will be effective on tickets issued on or after April 1, 2021,” said the DGCA order released on March 19.
Under the ministry of civil aviation, the Central Industrial Security Force looks after the security at most airports across the country.
People who are exempted from paying ASF includes Children under the age of two years, diplomatic passports holders, airlines crew on duty, people travelling on official duty on aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force, persons travelling on official duty on United Nations peacekeeping missions, passengers in transit of transfer or those departing from any airport due to involuntary rerouting ( ie. technical problem or weather conditions.
The ASF rates have been updated after about six months. In September 2020, the ASF for domestic flyers had been raised by ₹10 (to ₹160) and for international passengers, it was increased to US$ 5.20 from US$ 4.85.
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The rate hike comes at a time when Indian aviation has been severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic and the international sector remained shut since May last year. Although the domestic sector resumed on May 25, 2020, the flight capacity remains around 80%.
Despite domestic air travel striving to meet the pre-Covid level, the government increased the lower limit of the airfare band by 35% within a month. The government introduced the fare bands while reopening domestic travel last year with pocket-friendly airfares to encourage more people to travel.