Airlines for America expands campaign against airport tax increase

WASHINGTON, DC – Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the US airlines, today expanded its campaign against an increase in the current Passenger Facility Charge (PFC), the Airport Tax assessed on travelers, by launching a new website www.StopAirTaxNow.com, a digital resource aimed at enabling passengers to voice their opposition to an increase in the current PFC.

Airports are seeking to increase the Airport Tax by nearly 90 percent. This unnecessary tax increase hits families at a time when air travelers are already overburdened by a staggering number of government-imposed taxes and fees, currently totaling 21 percent of a typical $300 one-stop, round-trip domestic ticket. The airports’ proposed increase would hike the taxes paid on that same ticket to 26 percent.

Visitors to www.StopAirTaxNow.com can find useful information about the Airport Tax including the myths behind some of the airports’ key arguments. The fact is that there isn’t a crisis in airport funding – U.S. airports are well-positioned to address capital needs and have the revenue streams they need for future improvement projects. The website also includes tools for visitors to directly engage in the campaign and voice their opposition to this tax increase.

“There is a lot of misinformation being used to rationalize a tax increase on our customers. Our goal is to educate the public and assist our legislators in making fully informed decisions related to taxes on air travelers,” said A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio.

Travelers United, an organization representing travelers, joined A4A in opposing the near doubling of the PFC. “The airports’ proposed tax hike is an unfair subsidy on the backs of passengers and is unnecessary when the airports’ financial ecosystem is flush with cash,” said Travelers United Chairman and Founder Charlie Leocha.

A4A also launched www.airlines.org/invest, a landing page of significant infrastructure investments and customer experience enhancements at U.S. airports. Since 2008, more than $70 billion in capital improvement projects have been completed, are underway or have been approved by U.S. airlines and their airport partners at the country’s 30 largest airports. Customers have seen these investments as part of an improved travel experience in the form of new runways and terminals, better facilities and enhanced amenities.