Government Set To Implement Departure Levy This September

The government has set a departure levy of between RM8 to RM150, gazetted in ministerial order on 31 July.

According to a report by Malay Mail Online, the departure levy rates will depend on the destination and whether if the flight is economy class or first/business class.

If you are flying from Malaysia to Asean countries, you will have to pay either RM8 as an economy class passenger or RM50 if you are not flying economy.

If you are flying out to countries outside of the Asean region, then you will have to pay a departure levy of RM20 for economy class, and RM150 for flying anything other than economy class.

In another order dated 31 July, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said the levy doesn’t apply to infants and toddlers aged below 24 months, or pedestrians.

Also exempted from the levy are aircraft passengers transiting via Malaysia, any crew on duty on board any vehicle (including aircraft or vessel), and anyone driving or riding any type of vehicle for personal use (including aircraft or vessel) and pillion riders or passengers of such vehicles.

Selected operators such as operators of water or land vehicle, any government operating any type of vehicle carrying out passengers from Malaysia, or any commercial vehicle operators who provide chartered air transport services for carrying workers to oil rigs or platforms also need not pay the levy.