You Won't See This Flying Fee Increase. And American and Southwest Are Pumped About That

WASHINGTON — Major carriers like Fort Worth-based American Airlines and Dallas-based Southwest Airlines have fended off a push in Congress to raise the cap on a passenger fee that's used to fund airport improvements.At issue was the "passenger facility charge" that already allows airports to charge travelers up to $4.50 a flight segment through a fee that shows up in ticket prices.Airports, including those in North Texas, argue that the levy's limit needs to be increased to upgrade the nation's runways, terminals and other infrastructure. A key Senate committee last year approved a measure that would've increased the cap by a few dollars.But the airlines objected to what they deemed an unneeded tax on the flying public. Some lawmakers, such as Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, fought against the idea. And the proposal was dropped from the massive spending bill that Congress approved last week.Now airport officials are confronting the reality that the best shot to boost the fee has likely passed."Increasing the PFC for the first time in 18 years to fund U.S. airport infrastructure would have made good sense to reduce airport debt," said DFW International Airport spokesman David Magana said, before adding that the airport would "continue to invest in necessary projects."  Continue reading...