Air taxes and fees

Nowadays, with oil prices at record highs and the security measures getting tougher, air taxes represent more than 40% of the ticket's price: a real budget! On certain flights, these various taxes and fees practically double the price of the ticket. But what do these taxes correspond to? Air taxes regroup several fee categories The first and largest is the rise of oil prices and security. To face this constant oil price rise, and therefore of kerosene, the companies apply an oil tax to the ticket's price. Its amount is solely left to the carrier's appreciation. This tax can be up to 55 pounds for a long haul flight, and up to 15 pounds for a medium haul flight. These taxes are progressively applied, to the rhythm of oil price rises. To this, one must add the importance of security enforcements since the 9/11 attacks. The airway companies have had to change boarding equipment and procedures with a certain cost, which has a repercussion on the ticket's price. The second, large tax is made of the passenger's fee. This tax does not depend on the airport or on the airway company either. It is perceived by the airport companies and covers the charges of the airport, which considerably vary from one platform to another. Once again, security reinforcements in the last few years account for most of the bill. Certain smaller airports offer smaller taxes, and are encouraged by the low-cost companies. The tax list is never ending. The last one arrived in July. Destined to help develop third-world countries, the solidarity tax is between 0.80 pound and 30 pounds more depending on the destination and the class. On European interior flights, it goes from 0.80 pound in economy and to 8 pounds in business and first class. Outside Europe, it goes up to 3 pounds for economy flights and to 30 pounds for the other classes. The ticket price increase is naturally found in the tour operator's rates. Therefore, the tour operator can legally increase their rates up to 30 days before departure, but at a maximum of 10%. Other than oil prices, this is also valid for the increase of airport taxes, and exchange rates. Finally, one should add the expenses of issuing tickets that the agencies and airway companies rebound on the price. These fees can go from 15 to 50 pounds depending on the type of flight; short, medium or long-haul. Online agencies only ask for a fee of 4 to 15 pounds.

Reading an airplane ticket

On a ticket, airport taxes and fees are distinct from the journey's price: they are found in the taxes/fees/charges category and have different codes. - QW: passenger fee, perceived by the airport for the passenger's use of it's terminals. - YQ: airway companies over-charges, perceived by the airway company to compensate the oil price rise, and the security and insurance expenses. - FR: Civil aviation tax, perceived by the State, to finance the administration of civil aviation and land settlement. - XT: Safety Security Environment tax, perceived by the State, to finance security measures such as passenger and baggage controls, or even for fire safety. It is perceived by the airport companies. As for example, the total amount of the taxes on a Rennes/Marseille flight is of 44.43 pounds (55,35 euros) shared out as follows: - Passenger fee: 5.45 pounds (6,79 euros)

- Civil Aviation tax: 8.60 pounds (10,72 euros)- Safety Security Environment Tax: 12.71 pounds (15,84 euros) Company Over-Charge tax: 17.66 pounds (22 euros) However, this tax is variable. It depends on the airway company, the airport, and the terminals used during the journey. Big airports generally have higher taxes than smaller ones, regular companies are often more expensive than charter or low cost companies who use secondary terminals (or airports) and have a lower kerosene and insurance over-charge. Finally, an interior flight is less taxed than an international one.