The amendment to the Airport Taxes and Fees Act, impacting passengers departing from airports in the Maldives, has officially come into force today.

The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) had earlier announced the changes through an official publication this month.

Under the revised structure, an Airport Development Fee will now be levied on passengers traveling through Velana International Airport.

At other international airports in the country, only the Departure Tax will be charged.

The updated tax rates significantly increase fees for foreign passengers and premium-class travelers:

Economy Class: Foreigners are now charged USD 50, up from USD 30. The fee for locals remain the same.

Business Class: Both local and foreign passengers are now charged USD 120, up from the previous USD 60.

First Class: The fee has risen from USD 90 to USD 240 for both foreign and local passengers.

Private Jets: Both local and foreign passengers will now pay USD 480, up from USD 120.

Despite these adjustments, the departure tax for Maldivian economy-class passengers remains unchanged.

In 2023, MIRA collected USD 65.5 million in Airport Development Fees and USD 64.1 million in Departure Taxes.

With the new changes, revenue from airport taxes is projected to generate USD 1.5 billion in 2025.