adminNgonidzashe Chiutsi Business Correspondent
THE decision by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) and national carrier Air Zimbabwe to unbundle ticket fares and airport taxes has angered a number of clients who were almost stranded at the airport as they were not aware of the development. CAAZ made an announcement that Air Zimbabwe passengers were now required to pay airport taxes in cash at the airport prior to their departure.
Initially the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) and an Aviation Infrastructure Development Fund (AIDEF) fee used to be charged once when one buys a ticket but with effect from 10 November this year, the fee became payable directly to CAAZ after complications with Air Zimbabwe.
Passengers travelling on Air Zimbabwe are charged US$50 per passenger for international departure while domestic flights passengers are required to pay US$15 to the CAAZ’s receipting offices located at Harare, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls and Kariba airports.
However, the new development has allegedly caused inconveniences to a number of passengers who claimed that they were not aware of the new payment system.
In an interview with Sunday Business, Mr Arnold Moyo from Bulawayo said he missed the flight from Bulawayo to Harare after he was told to pay the departure fee.
“I bought my Air Zimbabwe ticket through the travel agency but was shocked when I was told to pay an additional US$15 to CAAZ before boarding. I did not have any cash on me and had to ask someone to send me the money through my phone but unfortunately I only got it after the flight had departed,” said Mr Moyo.
He had no kind words for CAAZ for inadequately informing the people about this new development.
Another Air Zimbabwe traveller, Mrs Theresa Mangena said she nearly missed the flight from Harare to Bulawayo after she was told to pay the departure fee.
Mrs Mangena challenged Air Zimbabwe and CAAZ to synchronise the payment system to avoid causing unnecessary inconvenience to passengers.
“They should just synchronise the payment system so that passengers are not inconvenienced. Why should they waste time and resources by duplicating roles,” said Mrs Mangena.
CAAZ public relations officer Mrs Annajulia Hungwe said they introduced the new payment system after having complications with Air Zimbabwe.
“The fee has always been there and it’s not an additional payment. Long back the fee used to be incorporated on the ticket but we decided to take the fees on our own due to system complications with Air Zimbabwe,” said Mrs Hungwe.
She said the fees were only applicable to Air Zimbabwe passengers.
Air Zimbabwe has international flights linking Harare with Johannesburg.
It also has a number of domestic flights that link Harare with Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.
The national carrier also reintroduced the flight linking Harare to Kariba and Victoria Falls with effect from 1 August 2014.
Online Reporter