Belize Airports Authority Institutes Rider Fee
On January 15, 2011 the Belize Airports Authority (BAA) announced its implementation of a Rider Fee on all airline tickets sold for local travel in the country of Belize. Passengers are now obligated to pay an additional five dollar ($5.00) fee wherever local airline tickets are purchased.
“This small fee has become necessary as the Authority seeks to secure loans to expand several airports in the country of Belize, including and most urgently and immediately, the Belize Municipal Airport,” says BAA Managing Director, Kenworth Tillett.
A release from Tropic Air indicates that all tickets charged to Tropic Air accounts will automatically have this fee included as of January 24, 2011. Tropic Air apologizes for the late notice of this fee to its customers since the company was only given the order on January 14, 2011.
Tropic Air further clarified that the $5 fee will be charged every time a ticket is purchased, so purchasing round-trip tickets will be cheaper for customers as opposed to buying one-way tickets separately.
The BAA manages and maintains all public aerodromes in Belize with no subvention or funding from any external source. Capital improvements for the good and safety of the industry must be made and therefore utilizing Statutory Instrument No. 44 of 2010, which states “Regulations made by the Minister responsible for Civil Aviation in consultation with the Belize Airports Authority, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by section 36 of the Belize Airports Authority Act, Chapter 238 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000-2003,” the Rider Fee has officially been implemented, explained Mr. Tillett.
In collaboration with COCESNA and the Government of Belize, the BAA, to date, has upgraded and improved; Corozal’s Ranchito Airport, Dangriga’s Pelican Airport and is currently working on the San Pedro Airport, all at no cost to the flying public and people of Belize.
