It’s a done deal — Taiwan’s “airport service fee” will increase by NT$200 starting in May

▲ Taiwan’s airport service fee is officially set to rise starting in May. (Photo / Reporter Chen Ming-ren)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Taiwan’s airport service fee is definitely going up. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications has submitted a proposal to the Executive Yuan to raise the airport service fee, which hasn’t been increased in 27 years, from May 1. The fee will rise from the current NT$300 to NT$500, and it is estimated that the increase will be directly reflected in ticket prices.

The airport service fee is collected from outbound travelers and is mainly used for airport construction and tourism development. The fees charged by neighboring countries or regions are higher than those in Taiwan. For example, Singapore’s Changi Airport and Beijing Capital Airport both charge over NT$800, Japan’s Narita Airport and South Korea’s Incheon Airport charge more than NT$700, and Hong Kong Airport charges more than twice as much as Taiwan.

Considering that the airport service fee is a major source of income for airports, and with Taoyuan International Airport planning to build its third terminal and a future third runway, the Executive Yuan approved an increase in the airport service fee last year. It has now been confirmed that the fee will rise by NT$200 starting in May, based on the ticket issuance date. However, passengers departing after May who purchase tickets before the end of April will still be charged NT$300.

Currently, around 60% of the airport service fee goes to the Tourism Development Fund, while the remaining 40% is allocated to Taoyuan, Songshan, Xiaogang, and Chiayi Airports. After the fee hike, this ratio will be adjusted to 50% each. (News source: Central News Agency)