The increment was due to the upward adjustment in Airport Tax that was enshrined in the 2011 Budget statement. Ghana is now one of the nations with the highest airport tax on the Africa continent. The passengers, mostly Ghanaians, could not fathom why airport tax could go up so high that they had to pay more for airline tickets.
Babara Anokye, a Ghanaian who resides in London in the United Kingdom, described the increment as unacceptable when CITY & BUSINESS GUIDE caught up with her, adding that even though it was good for government to generate enough revenue to support developmental projects, it could have been done gradually.
Kwabena Owusu, who is domiciled in Spain, reiterated that the new airline fares could prevent Ghanaians living abroad from visiting. Mohammed Amin, based in Hamburg, Germany, also expressed worry about the fare, noting it was not easy to purchase an air ticket.
Market watchers argued that the new air tickets could reduce the number of tourists and people who visited this nation. This could deprive the nation from getting more revenue from the aviation industry.
According to the increment, passengers who preferred economy class would pay $100 as airport tax, from the previous $75, while business and first class passengers would have to pay $150 and $200 respectively. However, those travelling within the West Africa sub region, would pay 60 dollars as tax, whereas those travelling within the country would pay just GH¢5.
Meanwhile, passengers who bought ticket before February 18 would not be affected by the new upward adjustments in the airport levy.
Brent crude continued to trade very high, selling at $112.88 per barrel yesterday. Analysts have predicted that this could force a further rise in the price of air fares globally, as airlines will consider increasing ticket prices.
Here is the original post:
Airline Passengers Upset