Taipei: Taiwanese carrier China Airlines (CAL) announced on Thursday that it will raise its booking service fee for international flights from US$30 to US$33 starting September 22. The airline stated that the increase aligns with industry standards and current market conditions.
According to Focus Taiwan, major airlines in Taiwan, including CAL, EVA Air, Starlux Airlines, and Tigerair Taiwan, impose booking service fees on a per-ticket basis to offset the costs associated with using global distribution systems (GDS) for reservations. This year, all four airlines have implemented multiple increases in their booking fees.
CAL initially raised its booking service fee from US$25 to US$28 in March, followed by another increase to US$30 in July. Starlux Airlines plans to elevate its booking fee from US$30 to US$33 starting October 7. Meanwhile, EVA Air and its subsidiary UNI Air increased their booking fees from US$28 to US$33 for all flights, with the exception of those departing from the Philippines and Hong Kong, effective August 1.
Budget carrier Tigerair Taiwan adjusted its booking fees earlier, raising them from NT$300 (US$9.51) to NT$350 for low-season flights, and from NT$400 to NT$450 for peak-season flights, beginning September 1.