Domestic flying will become marginally more expensive from December 1. This follows the Centre imposing a levy of ₹7,500 per flight between cities which are up to 1,000 km apart. For distances of 1,000-1,500 km, the levy will be ₹8,000 per flight, and for above 1,500 km, ₹8,500 per flight.

The levy will be based on the total seats in the aircraft and not the number of seats that the airline manages to fill. Given that the average seating capacity on aircraft operating domestic flights varies from 140 to 180 seats, a passenger flying between cities less than 1,000 km apart will pay about ₹41.66 while those flying more than 1,500 km will pay an additional ₹60.71 per flight.

“Even if the airlines pass on the entire burden without absorbing anything the increase should be about 1 per cent of the basic ticket. It is based on a gradedmanner, as those flying shorter routes should pay less,” said RN Choubey, Secretary, Civil Aviation. Airlines have already made it clear that they are unlikely to absorb the levy.

The levy will be applicable on all domestic flights other than those operated to islands and to the North-East. Funds collected through the levy will flow into an escrow account operated by the Airports Authority of India, and used to subsidise flights to the interior and unconnected parts of the country.

The Centre expects to collect ₹400 crore annually from the new levy, said Choubey.

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