Taipei: Starlux Airlines, Taiwan's newest international carrier, announced Monday that it will raise its booking fee from US$30 to US$33, starting Oct. 7. This marks the second increase by the airline this year, following a previous adjustment in April when the fee was raised from US$25 to US$30. Booking fees are typically charged by airlines through a global distribution system (GDS), a computerized network that connects airlines with travel agents and ticketing platforms, facilitating real-time reservations. Major platforms in this system include Amadeus, Sabre, Galileo, and Worldspan.

According to Focus Taiwan, other Taiwanese airlines have also announced similar booking fee hikes recently, reflecting a broader industry trend. Tigerair Taiwan, a budget carrier, raised its booking fee from NT$300 (US$9.51) to NT$350 as of Sept. 1 for low-season flights and from NT$400 to NT$450 for peak-season flights. EVA Air, along with its subsidiary UNI Air, increased their fees from US$28 to US$33 for most flights, effective from Aug. 1, although flights departing from the Philippines and Hong Kong are exempt from this change. Moreover, China Airlines raised its booking fee from US$28 to US$30 starting July 9.

These adjustments underscore the dynamic nature of the airline industry, as carriers respond to economic pressures and operational costs by revising their fee structures. Passengers booking flights with these airlines should anticipate the updated fees as part of their travel planning considerations.