The government generated more than USD 42.09 million in combined departure taxes and airport development fees during the inaugural two months of the current fiscal year, signalling a robust expansion in aviation-linked receipts. Statistics released by the Ministry of Finance and Planning in its latest 'Weekly Fiscal Development' report indicate that these figures represent a 15.9 percent increase over the USD 36.30 million accrued during the corresponding window in 2025.
This growth was driven by a marked escalation across both primary aviation levies. Technical data reveals that revenue derived specifically from departure taxes climbed to USD 21.49 million, reflecting an 18 percent expansion over the USD 18.19 million recorded in the previous year. Parallel to this trajectory, collections from the Airport Development Fee reached an aggregate of USD 20.60 million, a 13.7 percent improvement from the USD 18.11 million generated during the same timeframe in 2025.
Such receipts are governed by a long-standing regulatory framework designed to capture value from the nation’s luxury travel market. The Airport Development Fee has functioned as a central pillar of this system since its inception on 1 May 2017, mandated for passengers departing via Velana International Airport. The departure tax, which modernised the preceding airport service charge, was formally codified on 1 January 2022. Under current standards, specific demographics remain exempt from these obligations, including individuals possessing diplomatic immunity and transit passengers, as well as children under the age of two in the specific case of departure taxes.