The Civil Aviation Department has approved the request of Bangkok Airways to increase the airport fee for international flight passengers at Samui Airport from Bt500 to Bt600.

When the increase will take effect has yet to be announced, however.

The airline, which owns and operates the airport, said the price adjustment was necessary because the current fee falls short of the actual cost of operating the airport.

Bangkok Airways had originally asked for a Bt700 airport fee after having built a new passenger terminal and renovated the airport’s runway and taxi way.

For years, Bangkok Airways had been charging passengers Bt500 in airport fee.

Chaiwat Ungsuwan, deputy permanent chief of the Transport Ministry, said the Civil Aviation Department granted the increase after determining that the actual cost of operating Samui Airport was Bt610 per international flight passenger.

The department, Chaiwat said, settled for a Bt600 airport fee “to suit the current situation.”

Also, Bangkok Airways recently cancelled the 50 percent discount in landing fee it offered to other airlines using Samui Airport.