Proposed new airline fees

In his new economic package, President Obama has proposed that the Aviation Passenger Security  Fee which is now $2.50 per enplanement be raised to $5 for each one way ticket regardless of the number of segments. 

Starting in 2013, the fee would be raised by 50 cents per year until 2017 when it reaches a peak of $7.50.

The White House estimates  the increase in fees will pay for 43% of the cost of TSA.

The President also proposed a fee of $100 per flight for most private and commerial aircraft. This fee would be payable directly to the FAA to help support that agency. Only military aircraft, public aircraft (police, fire, medical) and recreational aircraft (meaning those not needing any help from Air Traffic Control) will be exempt. 

As expected, all aviation industry groups are against this plan. 

Similar types of fees on aircraft have been brought up before and have always been denied by Congress. 

(Frank II)

Comments

[Megan E.]

By lowering the amount of manpower and resources being drained by the TSA, I bet we wouldn't need a fee increase of that much to support "43%" of the budget...Better training could be paid for with a fee increase of $1 instead and keeping that stable wouldn't be as hard with better skilled workers.

[Paula S]

Don't move to Canada then....this was written in 2010.......
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/why-are-canadian-airport-fees-so-high/article1740306/

We have fuel tax, Toronto airport improvement fee and air travellers security charge.....to top that off we didn't used to pay Provincial tax on international flights, only Goods and Services Tax......we got slapped with the two combined which the government call Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) which is 13% in Ontario.
I know a lot of people that nip over the border to Buffalo or Newark to catch flights out, it was so much cheaper even with the added bus / train fare or gas usage. Wonder how long that will last if US airports are catching up with our nightmare.

[PaulJensen]

Would that include Air force One...???...

[Frank II--Editor]

No, as I stated in the blog post, military aircraft are exempt. Air Force One and all aircraft that fly the President, Vice-President, members of the cabinet and members of Congress on "official" business, Republican or Democrat, are operated by the Air Force in most cases. Other branches of the military also have executive fleets.

So when your favorite Congressperson goes on "fact finding" mission to the Aruba and takes their golf clubs along, they will either take an Air Force jet which will be exempt from the tax, or a lobbyists jet which won't--for now.

[Edited out]

The 100$ fee would essentially double some flights prices because when I was in school sometimes I could catch a flight home for under 100$ instead of making the 6hr drive. Doubling the price of some flights because of a fee is ridiculous, a percentage of the cost of the flight would make more sense not jEdust a blanket fee like that, especially when the fee is that high.

[Frank II--Editor]

The $100 fee is per plane, not per passenger.

It's really meant as a fee on corporate aircraft for using the Air Traffic Control System.

[Living Room Furniture Stores Atlanta]

it's crazy what a power trip these guys
are having in regards to controlling the
airplane industry. blah.