DUBAI, 8 June 2004 — Passengers flying from Dubai International face an extra levy of 30 dirhams ($8.2) for airport services from Sept. 1, a newspaper reported yesterday. The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) was expected to earn about 300 million dirhams a year ($82 million) from the Passenger Service Charge, Gulf News said. “In the developed countries, passengers have (long) been paying charges for the services,” said DCA president and Emirates airline Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum.
“We have created a world class facility for passengers and airlines at Dubai International Airport and we are investing further in expanding these facilities to add comfort to passengers,” he told the daily.
“Other airports in the region are also introducing service charges,” Sheikh Ahmed noted. The DCA is negotiating with a consortium of banks to raise 10 billion dirhams ($2.7 billion) to finance the final phase of a 15 billion dirham ($4.1 billion) airport expansion plan.
Departing passengers already pay a 130-dirham ($35) fuel surcharge, a distribution tax of 100 dirhams ($27) and an insurance surcharge of 20 dirhams.