Coalition Urges Congressional Action on Raising Passenger Facility Charge

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 14, 2007) – In letters to the Co-Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and all members of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, 13 aviation associations urged Senate action now to reduce passenger delays and inconvenience and provide airports with a critical funding source in an increased Passenger Facility Charge (PFC).  PFCs are local fees used by airports to build for safety, security and capacity projects, including new runways, taxiways and terminals to meet passenger needs.

Led by the Airports Council International-North America, the coalition encouraged Congress to increase the PFC ceiling and index it for inflation during consideration of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization. The letter stated, “…with the projected one billion domestic airline travelers by 2015, airports need to plan now to invest in modern, secure, comfortable and environmentally compliant facilities for air travelers.  A recent survey, conducted by ACI-NA, supports FAA’s passenger projections and the need for airport investment. The exhaustive survey of U.S. airports shows that total airport capital development costs are approximately $17.5 billion per year from 2007 through 2011, representing a 19.5 percent increase in annual capital needs from a similar survey conducted in 2005 for the period 2005-2009.”

The coalition includes:  Airports Council International-North America, American Association of Airport Executives, National League of Cities, National Association of Counties,  National Association of State Aviation Officials, Airport Consultants Council, National Air Transportation Association, Associated General Contractors of America, American Association of State Highway and American Society of Transportation Officials, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Road & Transportation Builders Association, American Council of Engineering Companies and National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association.

View a copy of the letter:  http://www.aci-na.org/docs/PFC%20Coalition%20Letter-FINAL.pdf