According to the Lusaka Times, the National Airports Corporation of Zambia has introduced a new Infrastructure and Development charge, in addition to the current departure and security taxes.
All passengers departing from the country’s airports – Livingstone, Mfuwe, Lusaka, Ndola, Harry Mwaanga and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe – on domestic or international flights, are now subject to a $5 and $10 surcharge, respectively.
Tickets issued before 15 June will be exempt from the new tax. Tickets issued after 15 June, booked via one of the major global distribution systems, will have the tax included.
Earlier this year, at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Zambian President Michael Sata opposed the introduction of a tax on air tickets as a measure to help fund the African Union. He felt it would detract from tourism if the cost of travel rose too high.
The air ticket levy was one of two proposals suggested by former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo’s panel. The second suggestion was to introduce a $2 hospitality levy applicable on all hotel accommodations within Africa