Flying out of Changi Airport will soon become slightly more expensive, as the airport authorities implement previously-planned fee hikes delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Departing passengers will pay S$59.20 for tickets issued from 1 November 2022 onwards, up from S$52.30 currently. This fee will further increase to S$62.20 from April 2023, and S$65.20 from April 2024. Any tickets issued before 1 November 2022 will enjoy the current fees, even if travel is on or after 1 November 2022.
While this may not have a visible impact on cash tickets (since airport fees are folded into the total ticket price, and airlines may adjust fares downwards to keep overall prices competitive), it will make a difference to passengers redeeming frequent flyer miles.
Changi Airport’s fee increases
Changi Airport originally announced in 2018 that the Passenger Service & Security Fee (PSSF) for passengers departing from Changi Airport would increase from S$35.40 in 2020 to S$37.90 in 2021 and S$40.40 in 2022.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hikes were suspended, such that the PSSF has remained at S$35.40 to date. Changi will now move forward with the planned increase as follows:
- From 1 November 2022, PSSF will increase to S$40.40
- From 1 April 2023, PSSF will increase to S$43.40
- From 1 April 2024, PSSF will increase to S$46.40
There will also be an increase in the Aviation Levy (AL) for passengers departing from Changi Airport, which is currently S$6.90
- From 1 November 2022, AL will increase to S$8
- No further increases are planned for 2023 and 2024
Changi Airport also imposes an Airport Development Levy (ADL) of S$10.80, ever since July 2018. This goes towards funding Terminal 5, and remains unchanged.
The upshot is that a passenger departing from Changi Airport will pay S$59.20 in airport taxes for tickets issued from 1 November 2022, versus S$52.30 now.
| 🇸🇬 For Flights Originating From Changi |
||
| Current | From 1 Nov 22 | |
| Passengers Service & Security Fee | S$35.40 | S$40.40 |
| Aviation Levy | S$6.90 | S$8 |
| Airport Development Levy | S$10.80 | S$10.80 |
| Total | S$52.30 | S$59.20 |
This will further increase to S$62.20 from 1 April 2023, and S$65.20 from 1 April 2024.
Do note that the increase in fees applies to tickets issued from 1 November 2022 onwards. In other words, you can book a ticket before 1 November 2022 for travel on/after 1 November 2022 and still pay the existing fees, as the screenshot below shows.
| ❓ Why am I being charged more than S$52.30? |
|
S$52.30 are the fees collected by Changi Airport from departing passengers. Some airports charge fees to arriving passengers as well. For example, a one-way Economy Class redemption from SIN-SFO has S$76.40 of fees. This is broken down into:
The fees in bold are collected by the USA authorities from arriving passengers. Countries which impose fees on arriving passengers include Australia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Russia, Thailand, UAE and the USA. If you’re reviewing the charges on your ticket and want to know which country is responsible for what, you can look up the codes on this page. |
What about transit and arriving passengers?
There is no change to the fees applicable for transiting through Changi, which will remain at S$9.
| 🛬🛫 For Flights Transiting Through Changi |
||
| Current | From 1 Nov 22 | |
| Passengers Service & Security Fee | S$6 | S$6 |
| Aviation Levy | – | – |
| Airport Development Levy | S$3 | S$3 |
| Total | S$9 | S$9 |
Singapore does not charge arriving passengers any fees.
How do fees compare with other airports in the region?
Changi Airport’s fees are already notably higher than other airports in the region, a gap which will only increase further from November.
| Depart From | Departing Passenger Fees |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | S$52.30 |
| 🇭🇰 Hong Kong | HKD 265 (S$47.57) |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | US$27 (S$38.04) |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | THB 750 (S$28.56) |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | IDR 240,000 (S$22.65) |
| 🇹🇼 Taiwan | TWD 500 (S$22.53) |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | MYR 44 (S$13.69) |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines | US$9.60 (S$13.52) |
Still, I know which airport I’d rather be flying out of…
Conclusion
Singapore Changi Airport will be increasing airport charges for departing passengers by 13% for tickets issued from 1 November 2022, with further increases of 5% each from 1 April 2023 and 1 April 2024.
While this will affect all tickets, those redeeming frequent flyer miles will bare the full brunt of the increase (airlines may tweak their base fares to keep the overall cost of cash tickets competitive, thereby absorbing some of the fees). It’ll be more of an annoyance than a deal breaker, but still worth taking note of.
Should cut CAG bonuses instead la sial
And end up with a Senai Airport?
Nothing to fear bro, CAG is home to all the mediocre talent who couldn’t cut it in proper private sector jobs and/or want to jiak liao bee!
No need scare cannot attract “talent”!
The L in Ah Long stands for LOSER.
Says you, I can charge higher interest rates than you chump!
HK and TW airports are good to fly to/from.
I detest having to pay for frills (the various gardens-butterfly, cactus, sunflower etc, movie theaters, Playstation games etc) I do not use nor enjoy. I also detest paying in advance for something none of us can currently use (T5 development).
Transit passengers pay only $9 even though they enjoy the same facilities and level of service.
CAG has borderline acted with impunity due to their monopoly status for departing passengers.
Unfortunately that’s how tax works. In income tax it’s even worse, people paying the most income tax are likely using public transport the least, and not qualified for government handouts.
These are fees, not taxes.
Same same but different
Thanks Aaron for the article and table summary of the Departing Passenger Fees. It will be great to fly from KUL, since the redemption rate are same as ex-SG and relocation flight pretty cheap and easier to get in hourly.
Won’t u still have to pay to get to KUL?
don’t see anyone complaining when you touchdown and get in your grab within 5-10 minutes. look at the other airports! By all means, ride to KUL and take a flight from there, it’ll lighten the loads!
People screaming about a $7 increase in airport taxes couldn’t afford air fares anyway, just some anti-establishment keyboard warriors.
this article opens my eyes wider, why is airport tax of Changi higher than other
Yes everyone should opens their eyes wide to see how much higher the fee is at Singapore airport compared to many other major international airports. You are simply paying for frills which you will not be enjoying and also paying for non-centralised security checks which incurred a much higher labour force and equipment expenses.