A4A criticizes hike in passenger facility charge
Aviation trade group Airlines for America has hit out at the government’s proposal to hike the passenger facility charge from $4.50 to $8 as an "onerous and excessive burden."
A4A says airports already had "ample" funding for infrastructure projects.
"With our nascent economic recovery, we should be doing everything we can to bolster those industries that enable commerce, like airlines, rather than adding unnecessary burden to airline customers who are already paying their fair share," said A4A CEO Nicholas Calio.
The White House intends to raise tax from the airline industry by $3.8 billion a year on top of the $20 billion it already collects.
"We can do better than burdening passengers with a tax that is not needed, and for the sake of our economy and jobs, we must. This is exactly why we have called for a National Airline Policy," Calio added.
The proposed hike would mean federal taxes accounted for 26% of a $300 round-trip domestic ticket.
"The U.S. travel community is alarmed and disappointed that anyone would give serious thought to tampering with ‘Open Skies,’ which has both made it easier and cheaper for American citizens to travel abroad and helped expand the lucrative inbound international travel market to the U.S, " added Roger Dow of the US Travel Association.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports