TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan plans to hike fees for planes passing through the Taipei flight information region (FIR) by 35%, aiming to raise NT$3 billion (US$93.54 million) per year in revenue, reports said Wednesday (Sept. 11).

Airlines currently pay NT$10,000 per flight, but the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) was considering raising the fee to NT$13,500. The increase would come into force at the end of this year or early 2025, per CNA.

The MOTC noted that regular upgrades and replacements were necessary for monitoring and communication systems, airport lighting, weather forecasting, navigation assistance, and other vital activities. To maintain airline service safety in the Taipei FIR, the overflight fees need to reflect the rising cost of providing those services, the MOTC said.

After producing revenue of NT$2.4 billion in 2019, travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic forced the income down 73% to below NT$700 million in 2021. Last year, the revenue recovered to reach NT$1.9 billion, with NT$2 billion projected for 2024.