China introduces Civil Aviation Development Fund

China's Ministry of Finance released (17-Apr-2012) the Civil Aviation Development Fund Tentative Procedures, effective from 01-Apr-2012 to 31-Dec-2015, imposed on passengers boarding domestic and international flights (including flights to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) in China, as well as Chinese registered passenger/cargo airlines and general aviation enterprises operating business flights utilising Chinese aviation resources. Money raised from the fund will be used to fund construction and upgrade of China's civil aviation facilities as well as subsidise airport operators. The fee replaced the airport construction fee and the civil aviation infrastructure fee. Details of the plan include:

• Domestic routes: Passengers will be charged CNY50 (USD7.8) per person, except passengers on domestic regional flights (flights on aircraft type including Cessna 208 Caravan, D38, ATR72, CRJ200, ERJ145, MA60 and Y-12);
• International routes: Passengers will be charged CNY90 (USD14.1) per person including CNY20 (USD3.1) in tourism development fund. [more - original PR - Chinese]