With reduced airport service fees, how much will airfares be discounted?

According to the Circular on the mechanism and policy for managing service prices in the field of civil aviation, recently issued by the Ministry of Construction, children aged from 2 to under 12 years old will be charged 50% of the regulated price when using passenger services at airports.

The new circular, which stipulates several policies to reduce fees for air traffic control services, aircraft takeoff and landing, and other airport services, officially takes effect from July 1st. This is one of the important steps taken by the regulatory authorities to stimulate the aviation and tourism market amidst constantly fluctuating aviation fuel prices, which drive up airfares during peak season.

Amidst fluctuating global fuel prices, Vietnam has implemented numerous preferential policies and reduced service fees in the aviation sector.

PHOTO: SG

Reducing many costs to support airlines.

According to the new policy, training flights for pilots that are not combined with commercial operations in Vietnam will not have to pay for air traffic control services for arrivals, departures, and landings for the first 36 months from the date of the first training flight.

For airlines with large monthly service fees, discount policies are applied at various levels.

Specifically, for services provided on international flights, airlines with invoices ranging from over $125,000 to under $250,000 receive a 1.5% discount; from $250,000 to under $750,000 receive a 2.5% discount; from $750,000 to under $1.5 million receive a 3.5% discount; and from $1.5 million and above receive a 5% discount.

For domestic flights, airlines with total invoices ranging from over 5 billion VND to under 10 billion VND receive a 1.5% discount; from 10 billion VND to under 15 billion VND receive a 2.5% discount; from 15 billion VND to under 30 billion VND receive a 3.5% discount; and from 30 billion VND or more receive a 5% discount.

The circular also stipulates significant incentives for Vietnamese airlines entering the air transport market for the first time. Accordingly, the first flights will only have to pay 50% of the service fee for aircraft takeoff, landing, and air traffic control as determined by the Ministry of Construction for a period of 36 months from the date of the first flight.

For new international routes that have not had a regular airline operating them for at least the previous 12 months, the operating airline will be charged 50% of the standard price for takeoff, landing, and air traffic control services.

The preferential period at Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, and Cam Ranh international airports is 12 months from the date of the first flight operation.

At Cat Bi, Vinh, Can Tho, Lien Khuong, Phu Bai, Buon Ma Thuot, Van Don, Tho Xuan, Dong Hoi, Tuy Hoa, Chu Lai, Pleiku, Phu Cat, Con Dao, Dien Bien, Ca Mau, and Rach Gia airports, the promotional period is 24 months.

For scheduled flights that the Vietnam Civil Aviation Authority requires to be diverted to other airports in order to develop the air transport market, the aircraft takeoff and landing service fee will be applied at 90% of the regulated rate for a period of 24 months.

In addition, several cases are eligible for special discounts, such as helicopters, drones, ultralight aircraft, or aircraft that have to land off-schedule due to weather, technical issues, passenger emergencies, terrorism, war, or requests from competent state authorities; these will be charged at 50% of the standard price.

For pilot training flights that are not used for commercial purposes, the fee is only 30% of the regular price.

Children aged 2 to under 12 years old using passenger services at the airport will be charged 50% of the standard rate, effective from July 1st.

PHOTO: VNA

How much is the discount on children's tickets?

Notably, according to the newly issued Circular, children aged 2 to under 12 years old using passenger services at airports will be charged 50% of the regulated price.

Airport passenger service fees, also known as "airport charges," are usually collected by airlines and included directly in the total ticket price.

Specifically, under the new preferential rates, the service fee for children aged 2-12 at Group A airports (Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc, Lien Khuong, etc.) will be reduced from 100,000 VND to 50,000 VND; at Group B airports (Tho Xuan, Dong Hoi, Chu Lai, Tuy Hoa, Pleiku, Phu Cat) from 80,000 VND to 40,000 VND; and at Group C airports (Con Dao, Dien Bien, Ca Mau, Rach Gia) from 60,000 VND to 30,000 VND.

In addition, the security screening fee (approximately 20,000 VND/adult) is also reduced by 50% for children, a further reduction of 10,000 VND.

In total, on domestic flights, a child's ticket will be 40,000 - 60,000 VND cheaper than a fixed adult ticket per leg.

For international flights (departing from Vietnam), the service fee at the international terminal is significantly higher and is calculated in USD (converted to Vietnamese Dong according to the exchange rate at the time of ticket issuance).

For example, at major airports (Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat), the adult fee is around 25 USD - children's fees are reduced by 50% to 12.5 USD, saving about 312,000 VND per ticket.

At other airports, adult fees range from $8 to $20 depending on the airport. Children's tickets, after discounts, save between 100,000 and 250,000 VND per ticket.

Besides the fixed airport fee reductions stipulated by the State mentioned above, some airlines also have their own fare policies for children, such as Vietnam Airlines/Bamboo Airways which apply a fare for children equal to 75% of the adult fare.

This means that if you fly with these airlines, the total amount saved on a child's ticket will be significantly lower.

Parents should note that this 50% discount does not include value-added services or other commercial services at the airport such as: dining at restaurants, shopping at duty-free shops, or using the Business Lounge...

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/giam-phi-dich-vu-san-bay-ve-giam-bao-nhieu-185260603095551972.htm