August 20, 2020: The government has raised the fees to be paid by passengers for security at airports to Rs 160 from Rs 150, effective from September 1.

Reportedly, the increase in fees is required to meet increasing cost of security expenses at airports. It will be collected by airlines including it in the ticket price.

"In exercise of power conferred under Rule 88A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, the central government has accorded approval for levy of revised Aviation Security Fee (ASF) rates on air tickets issued with effect from 1st September, 2020,” said an order issued by Ministry of Civil Aviation on 13 August.

The last hike was in 2019, when the fees were increased by Rs 20 to Rs 150 from Rs 130.

Airport operators had said the ASF of Rs 130 fixed several years ago was inadequate to meet the expenses of CISF deployment.

The cost of CISF has also increased as the force had to take additional precautions like PPE suits, masks, gloves as the personnel are in close contact with air passengers.

"The cost of maintaining security doesn't decrease even if passenger footfall is low. Same vigilance, technology has to be maintained irrespective of low or high traffic," explained a CISF official.

In similar to increase in security fees for domestic flights, international flyers, starting from September 1, will be charged aviation security fee of $5.20. At present, an international passenger pays a fee of $4.85.

However, airline executives pointed out that with weak demand environment, the hike could have been delayed.

“The requirement of manpower is low due to low air traffic. For instance, in Delhi, one terminal is functioning instead of three. So hike could have been postponed if not done away with," he said.