The fees paid by airlines to the Korea Meteorological Administration for weather information necessary for flight operations will increase for the first time in seven years since 2018.
According to the revision plan prepared by the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 9th, the agency has decided to raise the aviation weather information fee imposed on each aircraft by about 27% effective July 1.
In the case of landing at domestic airports, the fees will be raised from 11,400 won to 14,540 won, and for traversing the airspace (Incheon Flight Information Region), from 4,820 won to 6,140 won.
The Korea Meteorological Administration noted, "It has delayed the increase in aviation weather information fees considering the burden on the aviation industry due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic," adding, "As the industry has recently recovered to pre-COVID levels, it is a matter of realistic adjustment to bring fees to appropriate levels considering costs."
There have been constant criticisms that the Korea Meteorological Administration has been providing aviation weather information at much lower prices than the cost, leading to leaks of taxpayer money. The total amount of aviation weather information fees paid by airlines to the Korea Meteorological Administration was ▲ 10.3 billion won in 2021, ▲ 13.5 billion won in 2022, and ▲ 27.4 billion won in 2023. The cost recovery rates, which represent the ratio of fees to costs, were ▲ 4.4% in 2021, ▲ 5.7% in 2022, and only ▲ 11.6% in 2023.
Other countries have also profited from providing aviation weather information, increasing criticism that "taxes are benefiting airlines." The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recommend applying the "polluter pays principle" to aviation weather information.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, its airport-specific weather forecast accuracy, when converted into scores, is 10 to 20 points higher than the ICAO recommended level (70 to 80 points).