This article was last updated and fact checked on December 11, 2022 by Mani Karthik.
The last thing we wanted was yet another reason not to fly. Looks like we have it.
Come April, 2021 and taking a domestic and international flight from India will cost you more than in 2020.
Reason? Air Security Fee (ASF) becomes applicable from April 1st, 2021 in India.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has decided to hike the air security fee (ASF) from April 1, 2021.
The ASF fee increase for domestic air passengers is Rs 40, and for international air passengers is Rs 114.38.
What does this mean?
You will see an increase in air ticket prices to destinations originating from India. That would include US destinations from India.
Not all passengers get to pay the ASF fee though. Some passengers are exempted from paying ASF including children under the age of two years, diplomatic passport holders, airline crew on duty, people travelling on official duty on aircraft operated by Indian Air Force, people on UN peacekeeping mission duty, passengers in transit, transfer, deporting an airport due to involuntary rerouting.
For the rest of us, the price is only going up.