The state has collected MVR 102 million as Airport Development Fee (ADF) and departure tax.
According to the weekly figures released by the Finance Ministry, MVR 52.2 million in ADF and MVR 50.7 million in departure tax were collected by January 26. This is an increase over the same period last year. Departure tax collection stood at MVR 34.7 million and ADF at MVR 35.1 million during the same period last year.
The government is expected to receive MVR 870.6 million in departure tax and MVR 870.6 million in ADF this year.
On December 31, 2021, the government abolished the airport tax and fee and re-introduced it as the airport service charge, effective January 2022.
ADF is a fee charged to every passenger departing from Velana International Airport, including transit passengers. Only persons with diplomatic immunity and transit passengers traveling on a "direct transit" flight are exempt from this fee.
The government amended the law and changed the rate of ADF charges from January 1, 2022. The rate is now US$12 for domestic passengers and US$30 for foreigners. Business class passengers are charged US$60, first-class passengers US$90, and private jet passengers US$120.
The departure tax was also introduced to replace the airport service charge on January 1, 2022. This is a tax levied on passengers departing abroad from any airport in the Maldives. Persons enjoying diplomatic immunity, transit passengers, and children under the age of two are exempt from this tax. Departure tax is also charged at the same rate as ADF.
