UAE air passengers to be charged new levy

Passengers travelling to airports in the UAE will be charged an additional AED5 fee under new regulations, the country’s state news agency has reported.

The levy, which will be added to passengers tickets at the time of purchase, will come into effect April 1, 2013.

Children under the age of two years, airline crew and transit passengers continuing onto a third destination within 12 hours will be exempt from the fee.

“Fees shall be deposited in the country’s treasury,” a statement said.

Passenger traffic through the UAE has increased significantly over the last few years, driven by the Gulf state’s carriers, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways and Dubai’s Emirates Airline.

Passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport rose 10 percent from a year earlier in November to 4.88 million people, Dubai Airports said last month.

Traffic in the first 11 months of this year climbed 13.1 percent to 52.36 million passengers, making it the world’s four busiest hub for international passengers.

Neighbouring Abu Dhabi International Airport also saw significant growth last year. Passengers using the airport rose 10 percent in November.