As of April 1st next year, airline taxes will once again be charged at a rate of 3 BAM per departing passenger, announced the Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Edin Forto.
The decision was made at yesterday’s meeting between Minister Forto, representatives from the BiH Directorate of Civil Aviation (BHDCA), and representatives from all airports in BiH.
According to Forto, the market is facing its most challenging time in history due to demand outstripping supply.
“There is a ten-year wait for aircraft delivery. Airlines have the leverage to pressure or negotiate vigorously with airports. For this reason, we are trying to help airports stay competitive in the European market,” Forto stated.
Forto emphasized that they agreed at the meeting to extend the moratorium on airline taxes until April 1st, after which these taxes will be reintroduced at 3 BAM per departing passenger. Of this amount, 20 percent will be returned to the airports to support business development, whereas previously, this amount was 3 percent.
He announced that a new aviation law would be introduced by the end of the year.
“The tax will be a crucial revenue source for BHDCA to protect our airspace. When we add everything up, we expect, together with airport owners and other levels of government, to make up for the tax so that it does not negatively impact business with low-cost airlines,” Forto stated.