Two major airport organizations are calling for the modernization of certain airport functions and the removal of a cap on passenger facility charges as part of recently introduced Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization legislation in the House.
Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) President and CEO Kevin M. Burke and American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) President and CEO Todd Hauptli issued a joint statement after House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) released a sweeping FAA reauthorization and reform bill.
The measure, the 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act, seeks to reduce red tape in the FAA’s certification process for aircraft and aviation products, improve air travel safety, fund airport infrastructure and separate the air traffic control service from the federal government.
“We are pleased the chairman’s FAA proposal recognizes the importance of airport representation on a proposed air traffic control corporation and takes steps to streamline the FAA approval process for needed infrastructure project funding, but it is clear there is a long way to go before this legislation is ready for final adoption by the Congress,” the letter said.
Airports face $20 billion each year in essential infrastructure needs, the letter said. Modernization in the air and on the ground is required for the successful future of the nation’s aviation system.
“Today’s proposal misses a significant opportunity to tackle the real challenge of aging airport infrastructure and advance airports’ ability to serve their passengers and communities,” the letter said. “The easiest way to build airport infrastructure and let airports address their own local needs is through providing local communities the ability to make investment decisions by eliminating the outdated cap on the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC).”
Commercial airports that are controlled by public agencies impose PFCs through airline ticket surcharges, which are then used to fund federally approved airport improvement projects.
The leaders said that their respective organizations will continue to urge the Congress and Trump Administration to remove the federal cap on local PFCs so that airports can move forward with critical infrastructure needs.
“This is vital to ensuring a vibrant U.S. economy in the 21st century,” the letter concluded.