Air passengers who transit at an airport in Taiwan will have to pay a NT$500 (US$16.30) facility fee per person, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) announced Friday.
Taiwan's aviation regulations will be revised before it introduces the new policy, which exempts children under the age of 2 and individuals and their companions who have received special dispensation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the MOTC said.
The fee will be collected by airline companies on the government's behalf -- either as part of the airfare or at the airport -- the MOTC said, adding that passengers who end up not transiting can apply for a full refund.
The MOTC did not say when the policy will be launched, but indicated it will try to make it happen as soon as possible.
The fee is in line with global standards, the MOTC said, citing the International Civil Aviation Organization's policies on charges for airports and air navigation services.
Several benchmark airports in the region, such as Narita International Airport in Japan, Incheon Airport in South Korea and Singapore Changi Airport, have all begun charging transit passengers airport usage fees, according to the MOTC.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel