Taliban Cut Air Cargo Service Fees to Support Afghan Traders

DID Press: Taliban’s Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has announced significant reductions in several aviation service fees, saying the move is aimed at lowering cargo transportation costs and encouraging the movement of goods by air.

According to the ministry, the aviation security fee for cargo has been reduced from $100 to $10 per tonne, while ground-handling charges have fallen from $96 to $40 per tonne.

The ministry also said regular dedicated cargo flights will receive a 25% discount, while special or irregular cargo flights will receive a 50% discount on relevant services.

The ministry said the measures are intended to reduce transportation costs for traders, facilitate exports and strengthen Afghanistan’s trade links with international markets.

According to ministry figures, nearly 1,100 cargo and passenger-cargo flights operated from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul during the first six months of the current year.

Of these, 111 were dedicated cargo flights, carrying more than 7,535 tonnes of goods, while 965 passenger-cargo flights transported about 10,351 tonnes of goods. The flights served India, the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye and several other countries.

The ministry has described the fee reductions as part of efforts to facilitate commercial air transport and expand Afghanistan’s access to international markets.