The debate about raising more airport taxes is still raging in Congress. Travelers United has been working hard for the past decade to keep these fees increase in check. However, airports and the local chambers of commerce are addicted to federal money. We think they should raise it themselves.
Recently, Rep. Peter DeFazio, one of the most powerful Democrats in Congress, said something that sounds innocuous — but that would be bad news for every American traveler.
DeFazio, the chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, told an industry conference that the country needs to find new ways for “America’s airports to provide a decent 21st century experience for air travelers.” His preferred solution? An increase in something called the Passenger Facility Charge, or PFC, or more airport taxes.
You may not have heard of the Passenger Facility Charge before, but it’s a hidden tax that you’ve been paying for years. And now DeFazio wants to hike that tax even higher, which would make airline tickets significantly more expensive. And here’s the really egregious part: there’s no legitimate reason for doing so.