-
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has hiked airport fees and service charges in the airports it operates
-
CAAP will stagger implementation of the adjusted fees and charges for landing and take-off and international airport parking fees
-
The higher passenger service charge took effect on April 21
-
Also affected were groundhandling service fees
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has hiked airport fees and service charges in airports it operates.
CAAP Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 019-2025 signed on April 4, provides the revised schedule of aeronautical fees and charges for all CAAP-operated airports, and facilities, services, utilities, and properties under the management and control of the airports authority.
In another memo dated April 16, CAAP said it will stagger implementation of revised fees and charges for landing and take-off and international airport parking fees after acknowledging concerns of the Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP) on the new fees’ financial impact on air operators and general aviation.
ACAP represents local carriers AirAsia Philippines, CebGo, Cebu Pacific, PAL Express and Philippine Airlines.
The revised (PSC), also known as terminal fee, is part of MC 019-2025 but CAAP still issued a separate memo dated April 14 providing the PSC rate adjustment that took effect on April 21.
Both MC 019-2025 and the April 14 memo were issued following public consultations last February.
Under the April 14 memo, the higher PSC (inclusive of value-added tax) to be collected at CAAP-operated airports are the following:
-
International flights – P900 or $17 per passenger for international and CAAP Principal Class 1 and Class 2 airports; none for community airports
-
Domestic flights – P350 per passenger for international airports, P300 for Principal 1 airports, P200 for Principal 2 airports, and P100 for community airports
Prior to the memo, the domestic PSC varied per CAAP airport.
Exempted from the collection of PSC are children under two years of age at the time of departure, overseas Filipino workers for international flights, transit passengers, and passengers who are denied entry.
Landing and take-off fees and international airport parking fees under the April 16 memo will be implemented in two tranches, with the first tranche effective on April 21, 2025 and the second tranche on April 21, 2026.
The new landing and take-off fees are as follows:
International flights
-
Aircraft weighing up to 50,000 kilograms – minimum $185 for the first tranche, and minimum $260 for the second tranche
-
Aircraft weighing above 50,000 kg – $185 plus $2.30 per 500 kg or a fraction thereof over 50,000 kg for the first tranche, and $260 plus $3.20 per 500 kg or a faction thereof for the second tranche
Domestic flights
-
Aircraft weighing up to 50,000 kg – P44 per 500 kg for the first tranche, and P54 per 500 kg for the second tranche
-
Aircraft weighing above 50,000 kg – P4,400 plus P55 per 500 kg or a fraction thereof over 50,000 kg for the first tranche, and P5,400 plus P67 per 500 kg or a fraction thereof over 50,000 kg for the second tranche
International aircraft parking fees will be free for the first two hours regardless of the maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of the aircraft. In the next half hour, the fee will be $15 for the first tranche and $30 in the second tranche. Each additional half-hour after, the fee will range from $2.30 to $4.35 depending on the MTOW for the first tranche, and will range from $4.60 to $8.70 for the second tranche.
Under MC 019-2025, the domestic aircraft parking fees will be free for the first hour, and after that will be charged P364 for the first half hour or a fraction thereof. Each additional half-hour thereafter, the fee will range from P36 to P47 depending on the MTOW.
An aircraft that lands and takes off during night time between 6pm to 6am will be levied an additional charge of 15% of the applicable landing and take-off charges, or, an additional 10% if the landing was made before nighttime and the subsequent take-off was made during night time, or the landing was made at nighttime and the subsequent take-off was made during daylight hours.
Tacking fees for using loading bridges are:
- International flights — $30 per tube per hour or a fraction thereof;
- Domestic flights – P1,300 per tube per hour or a fraction thereof.
Exempt from aeronautical fees are, among others, aircraft registered and/or operated by the government, aircraft engaged in humanitarian mission, and flight diverted due to an in-flight emergency.
MC 019-2025 also includes revised concession fees and charges, and other airport fees and charges.
Other airport fees and charges include royalty fee for cargoes, which is imposed on any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of providing cargo-handling service in all CAAP-owned and operated airports using airport facilities.
Royalty fee for incoming and outgoing cargoes are P0.26 per kg or a fraction thereof for international and P0.17 per kg or a fraction thereof for domestic.
Groundhandling service fees, which are charged for the use of the ramp facilities, will be as follows:
-
Groundhandling service – 7% of monthly gross revenues but not less than P12,500 per month
-
In-flight catering service – 7% of monthly gross revenues
-
Repair and maintenance services – 7% of monthly gross revenues
Failure to pay any fees and charges upon demand by CAAP will be ground to enforce remedies until compliance or repayment. Such remedies include, among others, rejection of flight plans, suspension of CAAP-issued certificates, and enforcement of lien against properties of the debtor.
The fees and charges under MC 019-2025 will not affect the contract leases or concession permits executed or approved prior to the effectivity of the new MC, except when otherwise provided in the contract, leases, or permits.
CAAP-operated international airports include Bohol-Panglao, Davao, Iloilo, Kalibo, Laoag, and Puerto Princesa. Other major airports, such as Clark International Airport, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and Mactan-Cebu International Airport, are under separate airport authorities.
There are 16 Principal Class 1 airports, which are airports used for domestic flights serving jet aircraft such as B737 and A320 which have equal to or more than 100 seat capacity. Class 2 airports, which currently there are 18 of, are used for domestic flights serving propeller aircraft or jet aircraft that have the capacity below 100 but more than 19 passengers.
There are, meanwhile, 35 community airports used for general aviation. – Roumina Pablo
