Hamad International Airport (HIA)’s ‘passenger facility charge’ of QR35 ($10) is set to take effect from Tuesday but some foreign airlines will be charging QR40, it is learnt.

The new charge will reflect on exiting passengers’ air tickets issued from Tuesday onwards for travel from December 1. It also covers transfer passengers connecting within 24 hours.

However, there seems to be a difference in the actual rates that will be levied by airlines.

For instance, Qatar Airways has said – through a circular sent to travel agencies in Doha on August 25 – that it will charge QR35 per passenger/departure.

Similarly, Philippines-based Cebu Pacific, which flies to Doha thrice weekly, has told Gulf Times that it will stick to HIA’s QR35 charge for its bookings and re-bookings effective today.

On the other hand, carriers such as Emirates and Philippine Airlines (PAL) have confirmed that they will be charging QR40, which is higher than the rate stipulated by HIA.

Asked about the difference, an Emirates call centre employee explained that their system automatically rounded off the amount, similar to other taxes and fees, to the nearest zero.

PAL, too, explained that they used a similar system of rounding off. In a circular, the carrier said it was introducing a QR40 “passenger facility charge”, which would be applicable to all PR (PAL’s airline code) tickets issued in Qatar.

The airline flies to Doha five times a week.

“We need to see how the system will work starting August 30,” a PAL source said. He, however, admitted they always faced challenges in imposing such charges using the same system (of rounding off) as “passengers may think we get an extra QR5 but we don’t”.

Meanwhile, some travel agents said many passengers do not check the breakdown of charges except in cases where the total airfare is higher compared to a ticket bought for the said route during the same period in a previous year, for instance.

“What really matters to most passengers is the total airfare, not the breakup of charges,” a travel agent said, adding that he, too, was surprised to see the “passenger facility charge” varying among different airlines.

Meanwhile, Etihad Airways and Turkish Airlines said they would post updates about the new HIA charge on their social media pages. Travel agencies are also waiting for circulars from other airlines starting today.

On Sunday, HIA had said in a media advisory that the new “passenger facility charge” exempts infants under the age of two without a seat, transit passengers who do not require an aircraft change and involuntary rerouting.

Charges similar to levies at other airports, says HIA

Hamad International Airport has stressed that by introducing the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC), it aims to deliver consistent service levels and enable passengers to continue using the airport’s “world-class services and facilities”, many of which are complimentary.
In a press statement yesterday, HIA said the airport’s passenger terminal boasts of six activity nodes spread across its five concourses, each of which has Mac computer stations, televisions, children’s’ play areas, family waiting areas and quiet rooms with comfortable seating, all offered with no additional charges to its passengers.
“The airport also offers unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi and is home to art installations by renowned international and local artists, freely available for its passengers’ enjoyment. It also enables passengers to experience a seamless and hassle-free travel experience due to the cutting-edge Smart Airport technology implemented at the airport,” the statement noted.
“Even with the addition of the PFC, HIA’s overall airport charges are on the lower side internationally,” HIA further said. “The charge is in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation principles and similar charges have been levied by a large number of airports around the world, and have been also recently introduced by airports in the region.”