Soon, Pay More For ‘Secure’ Flights: Panel Hikes Passenger Service Fee To Facilitate Airport Security

A panel formed to review the Passenger Service Fee (PSF) has recommended a raise to recover expenses incurred on security at airports. The panel was formed by the Prime Minister Office (PMO) on the request of airport operators.

The cost of air travel will increase marginally as international passengers will land-up paying anywhere between Rs 228 and Rs 340 extra, with domestic passengers paying between Rs 200 and Rs 220 extra, officials were quoted as saying in the report.

PSF has remained unchanged since 2001 even though the number of passengers has increased, and airport operators claim that the current fee is not enough as the equipment needed for security checks has also become more expensive.

The Central Industrial Security Force (which provides security at airports) had written to the civil aviation ministry as airports were unable to make payments to the force, the director general of CISF Rajesh Ranjan was quoted in the Hindustan Times report.

Ranjan also added that the dues are not “alarming” anymore as payments have been made since the letter to the ministry.