Passengers flying with Air Zimbabwe must now pay airport taxes separately before departing Zimbabwe, due to the airline failing to remit its taxes, the Civil Aviation Authorities of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) has advised.
According to CAAZ, passengers must make payments in cash at the airport or with a tax coupon that can be purchased ahead of departure.
The policy, which came in to effect on November 10, requires international travellers to pay US$50 (R560) and domestic travellers US$15 (R168) prior to departure. The taxes are the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) and Aviation Infrastructure Development Fund (AIDEF) and must be paid directly to CAAZ at offices located at Harare, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls and Kariba airports.
Tilly Leteane, Air Zimbabwe travel consultant in South Africa, told Tourism Update the new requirement would not result in a reduction of Air Zimbabwe airfares.
CAAZ representative, Candie Banda, said those passengers who did not want to pay the amount in cash could purchase a tax coupon from the airline when purchasing their ticket. These coupons have been pre-purchased by the airline from the civil aviation authority on behalf of passengers and will be collected at Air Zim boarding gates on departure.
Travel agents can also pre-purchase coupons on behalf of their clients from CAAZ offices or, if based in South Africa, through the post. It is unclear how, during the current SA Post Office strike, agents would receive the coupons timeously.
Ross Kennedy, CE of Africa Albida Tourism, said communication, efficiency, speed and user friendliness of the process would play a big role in determining the way passengers will react to the new policy.
