Soon You Could Be Paying $10-15 Extra When You Fly Out Of Changi Airport

By
Jia Hui
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For those that have been studying your flight itinerary diligently, it’s not hard to miss the numbers beside the red box below.

It’s always a bummer to know that your flight ticket is never what is shown on those click-baiting deals.

Image: Tenor GIF Keyboard

According to The Straits Times, the numbers are going to increase this year, if you’re gonna fly out of Changi.

Why

This is to help pay for a massive airport expansion, including the construction of Terminal 5, a third runway, and ground improvement works.

T5 is expected to be completed by 2030 while the runway will enter operation in the 2020s.

Passengers flying out of Changi Airport will have to pay an extra of $10-$15.

Those transiting in the airport are affected too, as they’ll be charged half the amount.

It is reported that this tax is likely to be imposed from later this year.

It will be on top of the original $34 departure charge ($6 for transit passengers).

The departure charge consists of a passenger service fee, a security tax, and a levy collected by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).

Airlines too

You might think that it’s unfair to only tax on the passengers, but don’t worry, bigger users of the airport are paying extra too.

Fees for airlines are to increase by about 30%. These include parking and landing fees.

Not enough

If you think that increase in passengers’ taxes and airlines’ fees are enough, think again.

T5 alone is going to be bigger than the first three terminals combined together.

Hence, the Government will still be responsible for bearing “a large proportion” of total sum needed for the project.

Other than that, our trusty airport operator Changi Airport Group will also direct a significant portion of its profit to the project.

In the last financial year, the group has about $660 million in profits, after tax.

Other countries too

In 2016, Hong Kong International Airport started to collect between HK$70-HK$180 (S$12-S$30) from travellers. The money was for their third runway which is still under construction and expected to be completed in 2024.

In the same year, airports in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Doha in Qatar started to collect departure tax from travellers. The S$13 from each individual was to help fund ongoing expansion plans.

Impact on Changi Airport

Mr Michael Valkevich from Carlson Wagonlit Travel, a global business travel management firm, said that raising the passengers’ fees could be detrimental to the competitiveness of Changi Airport as an aviation hub.

“That said, a report from the World Economic Forum ranks Singapore among the most competitive countries globally when it comes to ticket taxes and airport charges, and I think most passengers do recognise the advantages of travelling through Changi Airport.”

Thoughts

Personally, I do not foresee the small increase to put me off any travel plans.

Anyways, it’s about the cost of three plates of chicken rice, not a big difference, right?

That being said, I would like to find out how the numbers are calculated, just to justify the increase.

Since you’re here, why not watch a video about a guy who lodged a Police report here in Singapore because he was friendzoned? Seriously. Here, watch it and do remember to share it (and also subscribe to Goody Feed YouTube channel)!

This article was first published on goodyfeed.com

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Featured image: The Straits Times

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Jia Hui
Email: [email protected]