New Zealand to tax international passengers

New Zealand airfares set to rise in 2016. Image by Edward Hyde / CC BY-SA 2.0

Airfares to New Zealand are set to rise in January 2016 when the government implements a new border clearance levy charging $16 for arriving passengers and $6 for departing passengers. Existing airport charges added to NZ airfares include a “passenger service charge” to pay for terminal and infrastructure costs at some NZ international airports. Other taxes include include a Civil Aviation Fee and an Aviation Security Service fee. The tourism industry says additional costs can have a dampening effect on travel. An Air New Zealand spokeswoman Brigitte Ransom said the airline was surprised by the announcement. Read more: stuff.co.nz