UAE: Airlines told: Exempt Filipinos from taxes, fees

Airlines, including those operating in the UAE and the rest of the Gulf, have been reminded not to collect aviation charges from travelling overseas Filipino workers. The Philippines’ top labour official, Department of Labour and Employment secretary Silvestre Bello III said Monday that despite earlier requests, airlines continue to collect terminal fees and travel taxes from Filipino expatriates. He also reiterated to the carriers and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to refund the travel taxes and terminal fees collected from expatriates in the last 3 years. Last year, Bello III ordered several carriers including Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, SIA, Gulf Air and Saudia Airlines, among many others, to stop incorporating the cost of travel tax and airport fees in their tickets issued to Filipinos working abroad. <br/>